What does lady luck have in store for our kid wonder? He had a good couple years as an opener but seems to be slowly losing his position to Imran Farhat. Of all the other openers that have come and gone, i would hate it most to see him make an exit like this. Maybe he needs a deserved time out to mature a bit and then make a new and improved re-entry, say about a year from now?
Re: Salman Butt’s future
I was wondering when the Salman Butt thread would make it’s way down here for a change. Seems like all hope is lost for the poor kid. Just yesterday, I remember Faisal Bhai’s WonderBoy Butt](http://www.paklinks.com/gs/showthread.php?t=205401) thread, and here we are now with the round-table conference. Such times, eh…
But yes, apart from his miserable habits (on the field I am talking about; no confusion should arise from the other side, hopefully), he is an extremely good prospect for Pakistan, and should be preserved for next few seasons until we ultimately stamp the domestic career label on his envelope for good. He should be given the opportunity to face the first ball in the practice English wickets this summer, instead of Farhat, and through the passage of time in the next couple of days (or minutes, depending upon how long he chooses to stay at the crease), the chances are that he will be prone to seaming wickets and will find his way on his own, given his maturity level. Between him, Farhat and Hameed, the three finds for opening slots, I would personally love to give him another long-shot and see if he manages to hold on to the ball (hypothetically speaking).
Re: Salman Butt's future
Even when 99% of the Cricketnama crowd was in love with Salman Butt and had jumped on his bandwagon, I was still saying its too early to claim that 50% of our opening woes are solved. The dude gave me tension by the way he batted. Didn't matter how much he scored. He didn't look comfortable.
In any case, it will be nice to see him work on his technique, get over whatever mental block he is in, and claim his place back in the side. We definitely need a better opener in our side than the hit-or-miss Farhat we are working with right now. And pls don't get me started on Kamran Akmal as our opener.
Re: Salman Butt's future
Salman Butt is still a good player, I'm sure everyone has seen or heard about how "wonderful/chanceless" inning Imran had played to win us the last Test in Shirilanka, that is his natural game and thats how he will continue. Perhaps the only reason players like Imran Farhat manage good averages/scores in domestic is because of our "fielding" standards in domestic .... which are very likely to be worse than those of senior team.... Salman Butt on the other hand plays much better controlled inning when compared. Everone has weaknesses, so does Salman, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik etc, but of them all Salman has been outstanding opener.
Re: Salman Butt's future
Note-worthy points, these.
Re: Salman Butt's future
Salman butt doesnt move his legs while playing his shots- atleast he should think about his name and move his butt a bit..
Re: Salman Butt's future
Salman Butt is dealing with a mental block when it comes to his batting. If you recall, ALL his good performances in ODI cricket was when Pakistan was chasing a big total where he was given the license to go all out. Otherwise he gets into a defensive mindset due to the fact he has got dismissed driving so many times. He starts blocking and then in the end out of frustration gets out trying to break the shackles.
Woolmer should encourage him to play his natural game which is aggressive, with just a little better shot selection. I say he still has a bright future when he sorts his problems out.
Re: Salman Butt's future
Salman BUtt is still better than Imran Farhat, i think he'll be back as soon as Farhat fails a few times.
Re: Salman Butt's future
I would still prefer Farhat over Butt unless Farhat starts to perform horribly...why? because even if Farhat scores 10 less runs than Butt while batting...Farhat will probably save 15 while fielding at point. Farhat is a brilliant fielder...and it was good to see him fielding in point yesterday against India because in the last series or do I saw him fielding in the slips...and he definetly wasnt comfortable there...but fielding in the cover region is his strong point.
These days games depend a lot on fielding...and Butt needs to improve his technique and learn how to play the outswinger and he must do something about his butter fingers...if I remember correctly there was an Australian batsmen who was dropped due to his poor fielding standards...and that tells u why fielding is so important in today's game...especially on flat pitches...where the batsmen wont give u many opportunities.
Re: Salman Butt's future
To me personally Farhat looks more confident while playing... also i see that he has more shots in his luggage than Butt. Farhat can play all around the wicket and has a decent footwork too... But i feel he is a little too aggressive and haven't seen him play a long innings yet even if he gets a good start.
Just my observations
Re: Salman Butt's future
We need to recall Mudassar Nazar and Mohsin Khan back if we are looking at the golden trophey this time around.
Re: Salman Butt’s future
^ 
I agree farhat is a much much better fielder that butt-erfingers. He is also more confident in playing his shots and a good runner between the wickets. Mohammad Ilyas must be extremely pleased.
Re: Salman Butt's future
Whatever the case guys, I think Salman Butt is truly a good prospect for Pak and he shouldn't be sidelined for Pak tour to Eng.
Instead, he should be brought in the nets and given guidance so he and Farhat can play together thus open for Pak in both forms of game. It would be really unfair to sideline him so early in his career. Mistakes are made by everyone so Butt is not an exception. He has got good batting ability and can def. improve with Inzi and Woolmer.
Umer
Re: Salman Butt's future
well.. so far the bad patch continues for the young opener .. he has failed in domestic matches as well ... Allah Mian butt sahib koo form dubara ataa kurein ...ameen !!
Re: Salman Butt’s future
salman butt is a very good player:) . the guy who can score a century chasing 300 target against india, in early days of his career can hit a century & half century against australia in australia:halo: , which such prefection & man of the series against world no.2 team englang, etc must really be exceptional. but at the same time he lacks consistancy:teary1: . getting out the same manner continiously, spoils his past records. he should work to better his tecnique by playing playing domestic cricket in the gap till english tour. i think he can play the role of saeed anwar:blush: with imran farhat playing the role of amir sohail:blush: . i think they both as openers if played regularly can give , may be not the same , but yeah , they can provide pakistan big partnerships. imran too need to control his agression:naraz: , he do plays some good shot also tries to hit evey ball. butt need to be mentally strong as well as technically…
Re: Salman Butt's future
how about giving Salman and Farhat both to open together? have two BATSMEN open the innings ..
Re: Salman Butt's future
I have a feeling they will pick Butt for England tour...which I think is much better than Farhat.
Re: Salman Butt's future
i dont think so they will play both of them in one days ...may be in test ... but in one only of them will get a chance ... they will keep on sending malik, akmal and afridi depending upon the situations... i can assure u of this fact !!
Re: Salman Butt’s future
exactly! why are we trying 1 true opener with whoever else? 
opening an innings is a specialist batsmen position, which should be played by opening batsmen…not the hit and miss akmal/malik…
Re: Salman Butt’s future
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You said it exactly what should have been said when Butt was dropped from SL tour. Just like opening bowlers, opening batsmen are specialist batsmen who are in the game only to open the innings. We can’t rely long on Malik’s or Akmal’s “iffy” opening stands. Farhat and Butt definitely make a good combination and all we got to do is get them more confident and get Butt a little more help in his shot executions. They both are very bright prospects as openers for Pak.
Umer