New Pak skipper vows not to lambast ‘non-performing’ players publicly

LEEDS - New Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt has vowed not to lambast teammates publicly who disappoint him, after he had to undergo same sort of embarrassment six months ago when he was criticized by then skipper Mohammad Yousuf.

Butt’s culpability in the run-out of Mohammad Yousuf in the Test against Australia at Hobart prompted then captain Yousuf to publicly lament that the opening batsman “can’t run” between the wickets.

“If I’m 35 years old and I get three runs, he is 25 years old, why not he take runs? Me and him are the same, 140 overs [of] fielding. We play for country here, not for self,” Yousuf had said.

Yousuf then declared that “everybody” knew the left-hander was “a little lazy runner”.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Butt as saying that he did not hold a grudge against Yousuf for making those comments, because he had done so directly after a tough day’s play for Pakistan.

“I think that was heat of the moment. Obviously, at that time he was captain of the side, no doubt one of the best players Pakistan has had, so maybe he said it because he thought the Pakistan team needed him then,” he said.

“I don’t think it should be done that way, but if someone does it in the heat of the moment it’s always forget and forgive because we have to move on. I think we should not discuss those things [publicly].” Butt said.

Butt’s appointment since last week’s Test at Lord’s makes him his Pakistan’s third captain in three matches.

He is also the sixth captain in the past three-and-half years, despite Pakistan only playing 18 Tests.

Butt said being guaranteed only a limited tenure would not daunt him.

“(For) everybody who gets into this type of challenging position I think it helps to be a permanently appointed person, but that’s the kind of nature we have (in Pakistan),” he said. “It goes like that for everyone.” (ANI)