WATCH: Salman Butt takes a dig at Iftikhar Ahmed during National T20 Cup

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt didn't hold back in his commentary during the ongoing National T20 Cup, as he took a dig at allrounder Iftikhar Ahmed. The incident occurred during the first semi-final of the National T20 Cup between Peshawar and Abbottabad on March 26.

During the match, Iftikhar Ahmed bowled a full delivery on the stumps to Kamran Ghulam, who attempted to smash the ball through the leg side. However, Ghulam failed to get the elevation he needed, and the ball was caught by Maaz Sadaqat at long-on. Iftikhar was visibly excited after taking the wicket and exchanged a few words with the departing batter.

At this moment, Salman Butt, who was commentating, decided to poke fun at Iftikhar’s celebrations. Butt, surprised by the level of excitement, joked that Iftikhar must have felt he had taken the wicket of the legendary Viv Richards. Butt’s sarcastic remark caught the attention of listeners, as it was clear that the dismissal of Ghulam, who had scored just 2 runs off 3 balls, was not as significant as Iftikhar’s celebration suggested.

Kamran Ghulam has been in excellent form recently and his wicket was a crucial one for Peshawar, as it left Abbottabad struggling early in the game.

Ghulam, known for his fiery celebrations, was clearly disappointed with his shot and walked off the field, knowing he had made a mistake. The match itself saw Peshawar putting up an imposing total of 243-3, thanks to a brilliant century from opener Sahibzada Farhan. Other batters, including Waqar Ahmed and Maaz Sadaqat, also contributed with useful scores.

Abbottabad, in response, started well but lost momentum after losing their first wicket. Opener Shahzaib Khan fought hard, scoring a crucial fifty, but it wasn’t enough to chase down the target. Abbottabad was restricted to 187-8 in their 20 overs, falling short by 56 runs. Peshawar's bowlers worked together to clinch the win.

However, Peshawar's good form in the semi-final didn't translate to the final. In the title clash, they were outplayed by Lahore, who won by 9 wickets with four overs to spare. Iftikhar Ahmed, who top-scored for Peshawar in the final, couldn't take his team over the line.

Iftikhar Ahmed last played an international match against India in the T20 World Cup last year. After a series of disappointing performances, he was dropped from the national side and has yet to make a return to the team.