T20 World Cup debacle: Key all-rounder’s role in Pakistan team under scrutiny

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has criticised the team management for including Shadab Khan in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad despite his limited bowling. Butt questioned the decision, highlighting Shadab's sparse bowling record this year and arguing that other leg-spinners in the country were overlooked.

Following Pakistan's early exit from the tournament, Butt expressed his frustration, noting that Shadab had bowled only four overs twice in 2024.

"I am concerned about Pakistan lacking common sense. Shadab had just bowled four overs twice in 2024 before the World Cup. We keep calling him a package without defining his role. We don't work with the best match-winning leg spinners in Pakistan, Usman [Qadir] and Usama Mir despite their domestic performances," Butt said.

Butt emphasised the importance of specialist bowlers in T20 cricket, citing successful examples like Kuldeep Yadav, Adam Zampa, Adil Rashid, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi.

"We kept searching for packages and kept compromising with bits and pieces cricket. Specialists are important in T20s. Look at Kuldeep, Zampa, Adil Rashid, Keshav Maharaj, and Shamsi. They don't bat a lot but they are match-winners with the ball. We don't use our brains," he concluded.