'They want to please the players just so that they can retain their position' - Salman Butt lambasts Pakistan coaching staff

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan recently expressed his disappointment at not getting a consistent run in the national team. Between July 2021 and February 2024, the talented youngster has played just eight T20Is.

Azam was a part of Pakistan's squad in their recent five-match T20I series against New Zealand. He played the first three T20Is and scored 22 runs before being left out of the last two games. Salman Butt recently reacted to Azam's comments on not getting a long rope in the Pakistan team. The former captain of the 'Men in Green' lashed out at the coaching staff and claimed that they won't add any real value to Azam's game.

"See, he made some right points there related to the coaching staff. He said that he is being made to feel that he isn't good enough. He is still very young. He will realize later in his career that some coaches aren't real coaches; they are just there to praise the players. They want to please the players just so that they can retain their position," Butt remarked in his latest YouTube video.

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If you want to play international cricket, you have to be fit: Salman Butt

Azam has scored just 29 runs from the seven innings he has played in T20Is. With such an abysmal record, his place in the national team might be in jeopardy but he has been impressive in franchise leagues around the world. In the ongoing International League T20 (ILT20) tournament, Azam has amassed 159 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 176.67. He is the second-highest run-getter in the campaign for the Desert Vipers.

Only time will tell whether Azam's performances in the various franchise leagues keep him in contention for a spot in Pakistan's side for the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup. However, Butt stated that the 25-year-old will have to improve his fitness in order to continue playing for the national team.

"He (Azam Khan) should have gotten a chance to play the entire series. In a couple of matches, he went to bat when the required run rate was close to 13, which isn't easy for any batter. However, if you want to play international cricket, you have to be fit. With the kind of talent that he has, he can perform a lot better if he works on his fitness," Butt stated.

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