'The amount of hurt caused through organizational hazards is unparalleled' - Salman Butt tears into PCB for handling of Naseem Shah issue

Young pacer Naseem Shah will not be allowed to take part in the remaining matches of the 2021 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Shah had reportedly got an outdated RT-PCR test done, and that is the reason for his expulsion. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had stated that all players should have a negative Covid-19 report with them from a test that was conducted not more than 48 hours ago, Shah had arrived with a test report that was conducted on 18th May 2021.

And now, former Pakistan opening batsman Salman Butt has lambasted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and stated that the Pakistan management has caused an unparalleled amount of hurt to all the people involved with it.

Butt stated that while the PCB was so focused on conducting the 2021 edition of the PSL, they could not even make sure that all the players who are involved with the tournament could be tested together. The 36-year-old even added that the PCB has become a laughing stock.

“The amount of hurt caused to Pakistan cricket and its people through administrative and organizational hazards is unparalleled. I am amazed that while you were so focused on making sure PSL 2021 takes place, you couldn’t take out time to get the players tested together.

Now your main bowler, one of Pakistan’s premier bowlers, is out of contention because his test is old. If this isn’t a laughing stock then what is?”, said Salman Butt on his YouTube channel.

“There is no reason to explain this”, says Salman Butt

Salman Butt further added that while the PCB took so much pain to conduct the PSL and managed to move the tournament to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the franchises could not even take the responsibility of getting the players tested.

The left-handed batsman also opined that all the players could have taken the Covid-19 test on the same day. He concluded by stating that Naseem Shah will have to miss the whole tournament.

“Pakistan have managed to hold PSL 2021 in the UAE with a lot of pain and difficulty. Some members of the PCB along with the government’s intervention managed to convince the UAE to host the tournament. But when it came to getting the players there, the franchise management couldn’t even take the responsibility of getting their players tested themselves.

“If they had done it, all players would have undertaken the test on the same day. If a player has a five-day-old test, it can only mean a lack of understanding on his part. There is no other reason to explain this. Now Naseem Shah will miss a full year of PSL,” concluded Butt.