"Mummies, not athletes", former captain criticizes Pakistan cricket team's fitness standards

Butt emphasized that strength training is crucial for the players, especially as they age

PHOTO: PCB

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has expressed strong concerns over the fitness levels of the national cricket team, likening some players to "mummies from the movies" due to their excessive use of athletic tape.

Butt's comments come after Pakistan's interim white-ball head coach, Aqib Javed, addressed the media on Wednesday, revealing that left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman is recovering from a knee injury and will rejoin the team once fully fit.

The former opening batter, while responding to Javed's statement, emphasized that strength training is crucial for the players, especially as they age.

“Yes, he [Aqib Javed] talked about Fakhar Zaman. We all know about his knee injury, but I think with age, Fakhar needs to work on his strength,” said Butt. “I’m telling you, every single one of our players needs to do strength training to stay fit as they grow older.”

The former cricketer also criticized the team’s current fitness regimen, pointing out that merely running isn't sufficient.

“Whether it’s Fakhar or any other player, the way things are going now, they need strength training. It’s as simple as that. Just running isn’t going to achieve anything,” he stressed.

Further raising alarms about the excessive use of athletic tape, Butt said the players' reliance on the tape gave them a "mummy-like" appearance. "I look at these players and I’m amazed—there’s [athletic] tape on their knees, tape on their legs. They look less like athletes and more like mummies from the movies, wrapped in so many tapes," Butt remarked.

He urged the players to focus on building muscle rather than relying on tape for support. “Instead of wrapping your bones with tape, wrap them with muscle. Don’t fear gaining muscle weight—muscle is heavier than fat, but it protects your bones, and it enhances your agility, speed, power, and explosive strength,” he explained.

Butt also pointed out that strength training is essential for players at all stages of their careers. “If you want to enhance your career and compete at a higher level. Whether you’re 18 or 35, this is essential for every player,” he concluded.

After concluding the white-ball series against Australia, the Men in Green are set to face Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI and T20I series, beginning December 1.

Pakistan ODI Squad for Zimbabwe tour: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir

Pakistan T20I Squad Zimbabwe tour: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan

Pakistan to Zimbabwe (three ODIs, three T20Is)