'He's lucky that he is Indian..'- Ex-Pak player Salman Butt takes indirect dig at PCB citing Indian batter's sensational rise in international cricket

Salman Butt India Pakistan (Image source: Twitter)

Suryakumar Yadav is all everyone is talking about in the cricket world after his incredible 112 against Sri Lanka in the 3^rd T20I match. The right-hand batter took just 45 balls to reach his 3^rd century in the shortest format of international cricket and wowed all with his sensational hitting.

The 32-year-old is enjoying a dream run of form at the top after spending a good part of his youth outside of the national side. Although late, Yadav’s inclusion in the team has come as a huge surprise to all and many are now asking why he was not selected for so long.

Pakistan cricket fraternity however has a different question altogether. Former Pakistan player Salman Butt has claimed that if Suryakumar Yadav was a Pakistan player he would have never played the game for the national side.

“I was reading everywhere that he came to international cricket when he was over 30. I just thought he’s lucky that he is Indian. If he was in Pakistan, he would’ve been a victim to the over-30 policy (there have been reports that the Ramiz Raja-led PCB didn’t allow players who are 30 or above to join the national team),” Butt said in his latest YouTube video.

Suryakumar has exceptional batting maturity- Salman Butt

Butt also praised Yadav for his fitness and batting reflexes and has accredited those qualities for his success at the top.

“Those who are in the team, they are fine. Those who aren’t in the team, they don’t have a chance. Suryakumar broke into the team when he was 30. So, his case is different. The fitness, the batting reflexes, the batting maturity… it’s like he already knows what the bowlers are going to bowl,” he added.

Yadav’s T20I stats are in a league of their own. In 45 T20I matches, the right-hand batter has made 1548 runs at a sensational strike rate of 180.3. He has also made 3 centuries and 13 half-centuries in just a year and a half of T20I cricket. When it comes to six hittings, with 92 he sits comfortably at the top as well.