Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has slammed former England spinner Monty Panesar for his recent remark on Indian captain Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team over their success at the highest level.
In an interview with India Today, Panesar had credited Team India head coach Ravi Shastri for the current dominant position of India in world cricket.
He also opined that Shastri had more influence on the Indian team than skipper Virat Kohli while citing the example of India’s memorable Test series win in Australia earlier in the year, which came in absence of the dashing cricketer.
The former English spinner also said the current Indian cricket team is more of Shastri than of Kohli, crediting the coach for India’s recent success and for building self-belief in the side.
Well, Panesar’s remark against Kohli didn’t go down well with Butt as the Pakistan cricketer said he didn’t understand the “context and logic” behind such statements, saying people shouldn’t diminish all the good work the Indian skipper has done over the years.
Butt said in his YouTube video: “See, I don’t understand why somebody would need to say this. Virat has scored so many runs, was it possible to get such a good winning ratio without it? Not at all. He was not there for one series, we can consider it as a failure. One or two failed series are normal but you still can’t take away his contribution. Similarly, a coach’s positive influence ensures that the team is with him.”
Salman has further insisted that each and every member of the team is equally valuable including Shastri and Kohli, so there was no need for such comments.
He concluded, “They both [Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli] didn't say anything and are happy to work together... I believe both are equally valuable. In fact, every member is valuable. And when they are all happily working together as a team, why would you say that it's one's team more than the other? I don't know what context and logic he has used.”
