If Suryakumar Yadav was in Pakistan, he would’ve been a victim of over-30 policy: Salman Butt

Suryakumar Yadav played a jaw-dropping innings in the third T20I against Sri Lanka to bring up his third ton in the shortest format of the game. The middle-order batter wreaked havoc and scored unbeaten 112 runs off 51 deliveries at a stunning strike rate of 219.60. Courtesy of his blistering knock, India posted 228 runs on board after 20 overs and eventually won the match by a margin of 91 runs.

Following his brilliant knock, cricketers like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul appreciated Yadav while former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt made a rather unusual remark. Butt took a dig at former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja and reminded that in Pakistan, players above 30 years of age don’t get an opportunity and thus, Suryakumar should feel lucky that he is Indian.

“I was reading everywhere that he came to international cricket when he was over 30. I just thought, he's lucky that he is Indian. If he was in Pakistan, he would've been victim to the over-30 policy,” Butt said on his official YouTube channel. “Those who are in team, they are fine. Those who aren't in the team, they don't have a chance. Suryakumar broke into the team when he was 30. So, his case is different."

It's like he already knows what the bowlers are going to bowl: Salman Butt on Suryakumar Yadav

In the past year, Yadav has proved himself as a 360-degree player. In the recent game against Sri Lanka, no matter what the bowlers tried, Yadav answered all their questions and hit a total of nine sixes and seven fours in his impeccable knock.

Seeing that, the former Pakistan international was impressed and hailed Yadav for his shot selection, fitness, reflection and maturity among many others. “The fitness, the batting reflexes, the batting maturity... it's like he already knows what the bowlers are going to bowl,” Butt said.

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