'Dirty Hit': Ex-PAK Captain Slams Mohammed Shami For Unpleasant Comments On Inzamam
Salman Butt criticised Mohammed Shami [X]
In an interview recently, Indian fast bowler, Mohammed Shami stated that Pakistan should select their teams carefully and not select the players based on family relations.
The statement didn't sit well with former Pakistan captain, Salman Butt, who condemned the actions and believed that it was targetted towards another former captain of Pakistan - Inzamam-ul-Haq. Butt added that comments made by Shami were wrong and it was a 'dirty hit' towards a great player.
Inzamam, when he was the chief selector, was criticised for having a biasness towards certain players, and gave preference to players who were his close allies.
Shami faces wrath of Salman Butt
"Pakistan should not pick teams based on relations and friendships. Mohammed Shami's comments were targeted towards Inzamam-ul-Haq. He targeted Inzamam by speaking about Pakistan picking their team based on personal relations, and I think this is wrong.
This is wrong because if you look at Imam's record, he came into the Pakistan team on the basis of his performance. He was also dropped when he failed. Shami's remarks were below the belt and he shouldn't have said such things," Butt said.
Butt also added that the controversy could have been avoided, and a renowned bowler like Shami shouldn't have gone below the belt against a renowned batter.
"Yes, there was a controversy, which should've been avoided. A lot of people made statements, Inzamam also said something, Rohit Sharma also clarified, and the topic was over. But to say things about selecting players just because they are relatives is a dirty hit."
Earlier, during an episode of Shubhankar Mishra's Podcast, Shami advised the Pakistan side to build a team on the basis of merit, rather than making it a family team.