'It is just like becoming a doctor without MBBS' - Salman Butt bashes young Pakistan bowlers for not prioritizing domestic cricket

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt comes across as a very straightforward person, especially when it comes to giving suggestions and feedback related to cricketing matters. If he doesn’t like few things, he would slam the board or its players. This time too, he has his say regarding the bowlers of the Pakistani team who he thinks are more focused on fitness rather than focusing on First-Class cricket.

Butt feels that the fast bowlers now just want to clock speeds in excess of 140 and just bowl fast rather than relying on swing, line, and length. Over the years, the Men in Green have produced some quality fast bowlers like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhter, who had various skills like swing, seam, and ability to hit hard lengths despite having pace.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former opening batter was disappointed with the shortcomings of a few Pakistani fast bowlers in the ongoing sixth edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021. Butt felt that while the facilities have been top-notch at the National High Performance Center, the bowlers should be able to have more skills and variations at their disposal.

The bowlers need to spend more time playing First-Class cricket: Salman Butt

“Bowling at 140 kmph makes no impact if you don’t bowl at proper line and length. The batsmen love playing these type of half-volleys. They only need to direct the ball towards the boundary. Pace will help you only if you know how to swing and bowl at the correct line and length. The bowlers need to spend more time playing first-class cricket; not at the gym working on their legs. You’ll become an athlete, not a bowler. It is just like becoming a doctor without MBBS.”

The cricketer-turned-expert was particularly not impressed by the young fast bowling duo of Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain. The young bowlers bowl consistently at speeds of 140-145 kmph but they are not focusing more on their domestic game.

Butt further concluded by saying that whatever exercises fast bowlers do to remain injury-free and consistent over a long period should just help make them better rather than just relying on fitness as their primary skill.