Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has advocated for the inclusion of pacer Akif Javed in the national squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against England, scheduled for October. 

Speaking on a local news channel, Butt expressed concern over the fitness of key bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Aamer Jamal, both of whom have recently suffered injuries.

Shaheen Afridi, the left-arm speedster, was injured during the Champions Cup match when a ball struck his left knee, while Aamer Jamal sustained an injury while playing for Warwickshire in county cricket. With both bowlers not at 100% fitness, Butt highlighted the need for a strong replacement.

"Pakistan is seeing quite a worthy staff in this. Let's say there wasn't a person you could say, 'Hey, make him play now; he's completely ready, he'll do it.' Probably, if you look in that range, I think Akif Javed should have been picked because none of the fast bowlers selected for Pakistan are 100% fit. I think he was someone who was bowling fast, taking wickets, and had good line and length, so he should have been considered," Butt stated.

The 39-year-old also praised the young talent showcased in the recently concluded Champions One-Day Cup, commending the contributions of senior players like Babar Azam and Salman Ali Agha.

"As for the fast bowlers coming from under-19 and above, Ali Raza impressed everyone; everyone tweeted about him, noting his very accurate line and length, and he is a thinking bowler. Jahandad, the left-arm pacer, and Ubaid Shah also bowled very well. After that, you see Abdul Samad, a young man who is 6 feet tall, his body language is strong, and he hit sixes all around the ground. Although he had a score of 50 and others under 50, he showed range, so there's encouragement there. Haider Ali's form has returned; Babar Azam spent time in the middle, and Agha Salman also performed well with both batting and bowling. It was also evident that there is a need to enhance their capacity," he said.

The Test series against England is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25, with the first Test scheduled to take place in Multan from October 7-11. Following the Champions One-Day Cup, in which the Shadab-led Panthers triumphed over the Iftikhar-led Markhors, the national team will prepare for this crucial longer-format series.