Butt hopes to enjoy second innings of cricket career

Former Pakistan captain and one part of the tainted spot-fixing trio, Salman Butt, says he wants to make up for lost time due to the five-year ban, and his comeback innings of 135 and 99 for WAPDA are a sign that he is enjoying the second innings of his cricket career.

“I’m really focused on my cricket now as I want to make up for lost time,” said Butt. “As a cricketer, you want to go out and enjoy yourself on the field and that is what I’m trying to do in my career’s second innings.”



The 31-year-old says he has focused all his energies to win back his fans by becoming a good cricketer and above all a better human being.

“I want to prove myself and become acceptable to my fans, teammates and the nation,” said Butt. “Whatever happened five years ago is in the past now. To me it’s all about cricket now. Hopefully, I will be able to win back the hearts by emerging as a good cricketer and a better human being above all.”

When asked if he was expecting such an amazing comeback, Butt said it was the hunger for runs that pushed him to perform.

“When I was about to resume my domestic career, I talked to myself and said that it is time for me to show that I still have got the runs in me,” explained Butt. “But even I wasn’t expecting to have such an outstanding run with the bat upfront. It’s the hunger to score runs that is propelling me right now.”



The left-hand batsman was also grateful to his domestic team WAPDA’s management and teammates for the support he received.

“I have been able to score so freely because of the support of the management and the teammates,” said Butt. “There were initial nerves when I joined the side for the first-class season but as time has passed, all of them have only helped me adjust. They have been really welcoming and provided the space for me to flourish in the on-going competition, so a big thank you to all of them,” he added.

Butt, who represented Pakistan in 33 Tests and 78 ODIs, said with age changes have come in his batting and he is constantly assessing them to improve his technique.

“It’s true that with time, things changes with your game,” he said. “I’m assessing my innings in detail to see what changes have come into my batting.

“Once I’m dismissed, I sit down with an analyst and see what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong, the changes that have come in and the changes I need to make. I write all of it down in my diary and then try to move forward with the things required to improve,” he added.



Regarding his chances of a comeback in the national team, Butt said he is focusing on his performance and the rest is in the hands of the selectors.

“I don’t want to think about it now and want to leave it to the selectors to decide. As a player you want to play for your national team because there is nothing bigger than that. For me, the difficult time is behind me and all I want to do is to focus on my game. I want to score as many runs as I can and then leave it to the selectors.”

Salman Butt was interviewed by Sports360