Salman Butt reveals why Mohammad Haris was ignored from Pakistan T20I squad

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt commented on the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris from the national squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England. 

Speaking on his Youtube channel, Butt acknowledged the abundance of talented batsmen in contention and questioned how Haris would fit into this strong batting unit, implying the youngster might need to re-evaluate his past performances to justify his selection.

“Azam Khan, Saim Ayub and Iftikhar Ahmed are all explosive players. Shadab Khan is also a solid hitter and Imad Wasim is the same. Usman Khan also performed in PSL so where would you place Mohammad Haris? Haris has had plenty of opportunities and maybe he needs to ask himself about whether he has done justice to his chances and talent because he is extremely talented. His look is attractive because of the way he can strike the ball,” Butt said.

Butt went on to express concerns about Haris' batting approach. He criticized Haris' tendency to play risky shots at inopportune moments and suggested that these inconsistencies raise doubts among selectors regarding Haris' readiness and mental focus during matches.

“Sometimes he plays shots which were not required at that time of the match and this was not just restricted to T20I cricket because he also did that while playing for Pakistan A. When somebody does this time and again, you have to ask if he is ready and mentally present in the ground. These things can create doubt in the selectors’ minds," he further added.

Despite his criticism, Butt did offer encouragement to Haris.

“I’m sure, with his talent, everyone wants him to play, including me. But he needs to show more presence of mind, show more practicality while batting and in simple terms only do what is necessary," he concluded.

It is worth noting that Haris, who has played nine T20Is for Pakistan, has an average of just 14 and a highest score of 31. With the T20 World Cup approaching, Haris faces an uphill battle to convince the selectors of his readiness for the international stage.