Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt stated that all-rounder Hardik Pandya will remain in the squad even after his poor show in recent times and his exclusion from the home series against New Zealand. Notably, Pandya had a rather forgettable T20 World Cup 2021 tournament, apart from his unbeaten 35 off 13 balls.

When he was asked if Pandya’s future in international cricket is in danger, Butt stated that it is too early to say so. He shared that India backed him at the T20 World Cup despite him being unfit, which proves how highly he is valued as well.

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While speaking on his YouTube channel, Salman Butt said about Pandya: “Don’t think Hardik Pandya is out of the scheme of things. It is not a case of him having to go back and do the grind of domestic cricket all over again. We saw that, in spite of him not being fit, he was carried along (during the T20 World Cup). But yes, he will have to work on his fitness and his body.”

The 28-year-old all-rounder had bowled in only two of the five T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12 matches in the UAE. And, he was ineffective and went wicketless too. Apart from that, Hardik Pandya has come into the limelight for the FIR controversy as well. A few days ago, reports became viral on social media, saying an FIR had been registered against Hardik, Munaf Patel and former IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla over rape-molestation charges as well.

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However, Hardik Pandya released a statement on Twitter, he said: “I had voluntarily declared all the items that I’d lawfully purchased from Dubai and was ready to pay whatever duties that needed to be paid. As a matter of fact, the customs department had asked for all purchase documents which were submitted; however customs is doing proper valuation for duty which I’ve already confirmed to pay.”