Salman Butt backs this pacer for Pakistan squad inclusion in England Test series

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.