Indian cricket team fast bowler Mohammed Shami recently said in an interview that Pakistan should improve their selection process and not make it a family team that mainly operates on personal relations. However, the comments did not go down well with former Pakistan cricket team captain Salman Butt who believes that the comments were targeted towards Inzamam-ul-Haq – suggesting that he played a role in his nephew Imam-ul-Haq‘s selection during his time as chief selector. Butt added that the comments made by Shami were ‘wrong’ and even went on to say that it was a ‘dirty hit’ on Inzamam.

“Pakistan should not pick teams based on relations and friendships. Mohammed Shami’s comments were targeted towards Inzamam-ul-Haq. He targeted Inzamam by speaking about Pakistan picking their team based on personal relations, and I think this is wrong. This is wrong because if you look at Imam’s record, he came into the Pakistan team on the basis of his performance. He was also dropped when he failed. Shami’s remarks were below the belt and he shouldn’t have said such things,” he said on YouTube.

“Yes, there was a controversy, which should’ve been avoided. A lot of people made statements, Inzamam also said something, Rohit Sharma also clarified, and the topic was over. But to say things about selecting players just because they are relatives is a dirty hit. Such things don’t suit Mohammed Shami. He is a renowned bowler, like how Inzamam was a renowned captain,” Salman Butt added.

Earlier, during an episode of Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast on YouTube, Shami had an advice for Pakistan cricket team and its selectors.

“I don’t understand why people find it necessary to target others. Improve your selection, and send a good team, they can do it, the talent is there. Do one thing, make it a family team if you want to run the team based on personal relations,” he said.

Ever since Pakistan were awarded the right to host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, a lot has been said and written about India’s participation in the tournament. Cricketing relations have not been ideal between India and Pakistan due to the political differences between the two countries. While Pakistan did travel to India for the ODI World Cup last year, reports have claimed that the Indian government is unlikely to give clearance to the team for travelling to Pakistan. However, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt feels its their right to host the Champions Trophy, adding that India must travel to the country just like the rest of the participating teams.

Butt also highlighted how India’s kabaddi and tennis teams have played tournaments in Pakistan in recent times, saying that the Indian government cannot pick and choose.

“Pakistan have got the rights to host the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and it should be held in Pakistan. Like all the other teams, India should also come to Pakistan. Pakistan went to India for the World Cup, so India should also do the same. A lot of things have been said about the relations between the two countries, but India’s kabaddi and tennis teams have visited the same Pakistan. Either you cut off completely, or you try to be normal everywhere. You can’t pick and choose, which they have been doing,” Butt said in a video on his YouTube channel.

On a lighter note, Butt suggested that cricket fans in Pakistan want to see the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play in their country, with the two India greats boasting a massive fanbase in Pakistan.

“Pakistani fans want to see the Indian players play here. There are many fans of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Pakistan and even bring their posters during PSL matches, despite knowing that they aren’t part of the league. People want to see these stars play in front of them. I am sure that even in India there are people who are fans of some Pakistani players,” he added.

There has been a lot of discussion over whether India will be travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. The two countries have not played a bilateral series for more than a decade due to political tensions but the Pakistan cricket team travelled to India in 2023 for the ODI World Cup. However, there has been no official communication from the Indian government or the BCCI when it comes to India’s possible visit to Pakistan for the competition. After India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said that their target is to win the World Test Championship and Champions Trophy next. However, he once again did not specify if India will be travelling to Pakistan in 2025.

Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt said that he has seen reports suggesting India will come to Pakistan but added that it is ICC’s duty to ensure that all teams play in Pakistan.

“We try sensationalizing everything. There have been a few reports suggesting that Jay Shah has given a positive signal. However, I don’t think he’s given any signals. I wouldn’t have been excited even if there had been a signal from him because it is the ICC’s duty to ensure that all teams visit Pakistan,” Salman Butt said on his YouTube channel.

Butt further said that if India decide to not travel to Pakistan, ICC will have deal with BCCI over the matter and this will be a good place to see if the governing body can deal with the Indian cricket board.

“If they come, then they welcome, if they don’t, the ICC has to deal with it. We will find out if they can just deal with all the other countries or can do the same with India as well. It will show how much authority they have as a regulator and how neutral they can be,” he added.

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez recently opened up about his stint with the national side as team director and revealed that there were no fitness tests conducted in the team ahead of the Cricket World Cup 2023. During his appearance on the Club Praire Fire podcast with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan, Hafeez also said that the fat percentage had gone up in the players and they were not able to complete some of the fitness exercises. While the allegations did cause quite a stir among fans, former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt was not impressed. Butt said that Hafeez should not have said all this on an international standard and he should have taken steps to rectify the situation during his tenure.

“Maybe, he is saying as it is. But whose job was it to ensure that? You are complaining about your team’s matters on international platforms. You were team director. It was your job to pick the right people,” Butt said on a YouTube show, Cricket Baithak.

“You picked those people who, on their own, may never be there. You didn’t take fitness tests. Who stopped you? Or should I call it incompetence or lack of control? They were your juniors. You couldn’t take the tests?”

“You’re ranting to Adam (Gilchrist), ‘I wanted to do this and do that, but they didn’t listen to me. I was the team director’. For god’s sake, what were you trying to do? No one leaves their job until they’re sacked. Now, you go to an international platform and start complaining there. Why didn’t you say that when you were here?”

“Why didn’t you ask for more power and backing? I don’t know what to agree with or what not to. When someone else played Amir, he was a criminal. But it’s fine when you call him yourself,” he added.

Pakistan crashed out of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the group stage after losing to United States and India.