Former Pakistan player Salman Butt believes Team India’s speedster Mohammed Shami targeted former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq by commenting on Pakistan’s team selection as well. He also stated that the veteran pacer took a potshot at the veteran Pakistan player, suggesting that he was biased towards his nephew, Imam-ul-Haq, during his stint as chief selector as well.

Speaking on journalist Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, Shami had added that Pakistan should avoid taking digs at India and should focus on improving their selection. Shami also made a sarcastic remark, saying that Pakistan should make the national side is a family team if they want to select players based on friendships and personal relations as well.

ALSO READ: “Shubman’s captaincy is very good” – Ravi Bishnoi on Shubman Gill

Shami said during the podcast: “I don’t understand why people find it necessary to target others. Improve your selection, and send a good team, they can do it, the talent is there. Do one thing, make it a family team if you want to run the team based on personal relations. Pakistan should not pick teams based on relations and friendships. Mohammed Shami’s comments were targeted towards Inzamam-ul-Haq. He targeted Inzamam by speaking about Pakistan picking their team based on personal relations, and I think this is wrong. This is wrong because if you look at Imam’s record, he came into the Pakistan team on the basis of his performance. He was also dropped when he failed. Shami’s remarks were below the belt and he shouldn’t have said such things.”

And, Salman Butt further added that accusing India of ball tampering was not necessary. He also added that Inzamam-ul-Haq had a role to play in the controversy and Indian captain Rohit Sharma also reacted to it as well.

“Yes, there was a controversy, which should’ve been avoided. A lot of people made statements, Inzamam also said something, Rohit Sharma also clarified, and the topic was over. But to say things about selecting players just because they are relatives is a dirty hit. Such things don’t suit Mohammed Shami. He is a renowned bowler, like how Inzamam awas a renowned captain,” he concluded.