Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has slammed accusations that India received help from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in reaching the 2024 T20 World Cup final.
“People have been talking a lot about how the ICC has favoured India and scheduled the matches in Guyana. If we had scored 42 runs off 42 balls, that is, with eight wickets remaining, those matches would have been ours. Let’s not think that we need to say anything on the matter just because they are playing against India,” Bhatt said on YouTube show “Cricket Baithak”.
The 39-year-old, who has played 33 Test matches and 78 ODIs for Pakistan, further praised India and the team’s planned approach behind their success.
“Professionally and ability-wise, they are playing better cricket and their cricketing trajectory is a lot clearer. The clarity of their roles, the leadership, the coaching, the way they develop reserve players… They recently announced their squad for the Zimbabwe series which is made up entirely of young players and a young captain. They are going to play a five-Test series against Australia this year and will be sending their A team for some four-day cricket before that. So they’re doing all the right things,” Butt added.
Rohit Sharma and team have reached three consecutive ICC finals – the 2023 World Test Championship, the 2023 ODI World Cup and now the T20 World Cup.
Slamming the stark contrasts in Pakistan cricket, Butt said, “Pakistan has a series against Bangladesh, then a four-day match in Australia, that too in Darwin. After that we will move on to district T20 cricket and the next big event for Pakistan is the 50-over Champions Trophy (in 2025). Who is our planner? Paper Islamiyat exams and English preparation (there is Islamiyat exam). Whatever we do is pointless. Also, I don’t like India winning. This is not the right mindset,” Butt said.
India are unbeaten heading into the T20 World Cup final against South Africa but Pakistan’s exit from the group stage has drawn heavy criticism from former players. Babar Azam’s team finished with two wins from their four matches, despite losses to the USA and India.
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First uploaded: 29 Jun 2024 19:39 IST
