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'Arshdeep Over Shardul, Krishna' - Ex Pakistan Captain Lets His Thinking Out

image-lqrt9rqaArshdeep Singh has played 12 first-class games (Twitter)

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt urged the Indian selectors and team management to spread the net wide in terms of fast-bowling options and identify Punjab left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh as a potential Test match seamer for the country. 

Butt said Arshdeep, who has been a limited-overs specialist in the current set-up with 6 ODIs and 42 T20Is under his belt since his debut in July 2022, should've stayed put in the Rainbow Nation and played the Boxing Day Test against South Africa. 

The former Pakistan cricketer believes the left-arm swing bowler has the raw materials to succeed at the Test level and should've been asked to join the squad for the two Tests after his terrific 'Player of the Series' performance on the ODI leg of the tour. 


Butt Says Arshdeep Should've Played Centurion Test 

Arshdeep finished as the top wicket-taker during the three-match ODI series and played a handsome role with his 10 scalps in India's fantastic 2-1 series victory under stand-in captain KL Rahul. 

The youngster got the ball to move late against the Proteas and tamed their wings with a magnificent fifer in the opening game and then a four-wicket haul in the decider. 

Butt's vote of confidence on Arshdeep was based on his ODI performances and the expensive ways of India's third and fourth options - debutant Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur - at the SuperSports Park, where they finished with respective figures of 1/93 and 1/101. 

"Instead of playing Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna together, it would have been better to pick Arshdeep Singh in the team. He bowls with more pace and can swing the ball both ways," Butt was quoted as saying by CricToday. 

"He might have been impactful in the first Test. Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur were hit for a lot of boundaries," he added. 

Arshdeep has played 12 first-class games for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy and Kent in the County Championship in England with 38 wickets taken at an average of 29.97.