Whilst Pakistan under the leadership of Younus Khan were triumphant at the 2009 Twenty/20 World Cup last year, the tournament itself was not a personal success for opening batsman Salman Butt. The 25 year old left hander was selected for the warmup matches and the early tournament matches, but was then dropped in favour of Shahzaib Hasan as Pakistan opted for a new look opening partnership in Engl

 By Saj Sadiq

24th May 2010

Whilst Pakistan under the leadership of Younus Khan were triumphant at the 2009 Twenty/20 World Cup last year, the tournament itself was not a personal success for opening batsman Salman Butt. The 25 year old left hander was selected for the warmup matches and the early tournament matches, but was then dropped in favour of Shahzaib Hasan as Pakistan opted for a new look opening partnership in England.

Nearly twelve months later and whilst Pakistan are no longer Twenty/20 World Champions, Salman Butt can be more than satisfied with his performances in the Caribbean in a format of the game that many Pakistani fans felt that did not suit his style of batting. 

Butt was Pakistan's leading runscorer in the West Indies and scored 223 runs at an average of 44.60, and a strike rate of 131.17. The Lahore based batsmen almost singlehandedly lifted Pakistan to victory in a pulsating encounter against New Zealand, which was decided only on the final delivery of the match. Butt scored 67 runs off 54 deliveries, as Pakistan lost by one run when chasing down New Zealand's 133 for 7. 

Speaking from Lahore to PakPassion.net ; Butt felt that the Pakistan team could have performed better in the West Indies. "Yes we can be satisfied with reaching the semi finals, but the target is always to win trophies. We came back very well after the New Zealand defeat to beat the South Africans and I thought we were gaining enough momentum and on our way to the final. We made the highest score any team made in the tournament against Australia, but it was one of those occasions where you have to credit Mike Hussey for his batting. I would say that rather than Pakistan losing the semi final, it was more a case of Hussey winning the match for Australia".

Butt who has represented Pakistan on 22 occasions in the Twenty over format of the game feels that his style of batting has a place in the shortest version of the game and that to be effective in Twenty over cricket you dont have to just try to hit the boundaries.

"Twenty over cricket has a place for what I would term "proper strokemakers". Batsmen who play their shots on the merit of each delivery. Bowlers are fighting back when it comes to this form of the game and they are finding new ways to innovate and to restrict the batting side. As a batsman in Twenty over cricket, I think you have to play the high percentage shots, the shots that you know you can play, the shots that you feel you can score off effectively".

Butt who made his test debut nearly 7 years ago and has played for Pakistan on 125 occasions in total feels that singles are equally as important as boundaries in Twenty/20 cricket.

"If you think about it, get four or five singles in an over and one boundary in the same over, and you have accumulated eight or nine runs in that over, which if you can maintain and you will end up with 160 plus. It's not just about the fours and sixes".

Butt was a forlorn figure at the end of the New Zealand match in the Super 8s match as he watched in horror at the non strikers end when Abdur Rehman picked out the deep square leg fielder. However when asked if he could turn back the clock, would he do anything differently in that innings, he said he would not change any aspect of his innings or his decision making.

"We needed 11 off the last over and then three off two deliveries after I managed to hit two boundaries. Rehman and I had a chat before the penultimate delivery and decided that we would go for a bye even if I didnt connect with the ball. We scampered a bye and then had another chat before the final delivery. We decided that again we would run for anything and we were confident that if it went to the super over, in Mohammad Aamer we had a bowler who would see us to victory. Rehman had not batted previously in the tournament as of course it was his first match, so I said to him to at least look for a single. However when the ball was bowled by Butler, Rehman's eye's lit up at the leg stump half volley. He went for a boundary and connected really well. If the ball had been a few yards either side of the fielder it would have gone for a boundary. Thinking back I thought the planning was satisfactory and it was really painful when we didnt at least score a single on that final delivery".

Butt dedicated his good form in the Twenty/20 World Cup to the coaching duo of Ijaz Ahmed and Waqar Younis. "They really backed me during the tournament and gave me a lot of self belief and confidence. As a batsman once you receive the backing and you have the self confidence, then that is half the battle".

Looking ahead to Pakistan's next assignment in Sri Lanka, Butt feels that the conditions in Dambulla will be testing during the Asia Cup.

"Hopefully I will get selected. The conditions in Dambulla are very tricky for top order batsmen as the ball seams around a lot in the first hour or so. Winning the toss could be pivotal in the result of the matches in Sri Lanka".

Following the Asia Cup, Pakistan embark on a tough tour of England where they face the hosts and Australia in a tour that lasts almost three months. Butt feels that it will be a testing tour for Pakistan, but a tour where they can perform well.

"Facing the Australian and English bowling attacks will be a tough test. They are amongst the best bowling attacks in the world at the moment and they will thoroughly test myself and the other Pakistani batsmen. However when you face tough opponents, it helps you to develop your game and to work harder at improvements in your game and technique".

Butt's name has been linked to the current vacant Pakistan test captain's role, however it's not something that Butt has been thinking about too much.

"I've read a few articles in the press and I know that a few ex players have suggested that I should be given the opportunity. Of course it would be an honour to lead my country, but its not something I have been thinking about. I would much rather concentrate on my batting and the upcoming Asia Cup and tour of England".

Controversies following the tour of Australia have blackened the name of Pakistan cricket once again, but Salman Butt refused to be drawn on the issue. "Its a matter for the Board and some of the players to sort out and not something that I wish to comment upon".