Babar cannot dance like Michael Jackson, says former captain

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has voiced his thoughts on the unrealistic expectations placed on cricket players, particularly referencing current captain Babar Azam. 

In a recent interview with a local news channel, Butt criticized the notion of judging players solely on metrics like strike-rate, highlighting the importance of individual strengths and roles within a team.

"Who knows about the talk of strike-rate, 90+ bowlers in the cricket fraternity who have not scored 15 runs in their life, and the rest are those who have no connection with cricket. Strike-rate is the result of a process, and that process is to bat according to merit. When you play, there comes a time when you respond to every delivery," Butt said.

The former skipper expressed his views on the comparisons often drawn between players and their diverse talents. 

He particularly highlighted the recent comments made by Babar Azam regarding his unique abilities and limitations.

"Every person has their own USP. Wasim Akram was not Shoaib Akhtar, and Shoaib Akhtar was not Wasim Akram. You cannot turn Abdul Qadir into Saqlain Mushtaq, nor Saqlain Mushtaq into Abdul Qadir. All these people were legends because of their USP. Javed Miandad couldn't do what Saeed Anwar could, and Saeed Anwar couldn't do what Javed Miandad did," he said.

 Butt also shared his thoughts on the 29-year-old's capabilities, drawing comparisons with legendary figures Michael Jackson and Noor Jahan.

"In a team of 11 players, each player has a specific role, and Babar is absolutely right when he says neither he can become Saim nor Saim can become Babar. Babar is the kind of person who scores 9 out of 10 times. Now, if you want Babar to dance like Michael Jackson and sing like Noor Jahan, that's not possible," he concluded.