New Delhi: Earlier this week, BCCI sacked the Chetan Sharma-led selection panel after India’s poor run in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. The board has now invited applications for new selectors and the last date to submit applications has been given as November 28.
Former Pakistan player Salman Butt has added his reaction to the matter and said that the Indian selectors have made a few questionable decisions as they sacked Kohli as the ODI captain.
"What was the reason for not having an out-and-out fast bowler for the T20 World Cup, when you are playing in Australia, where you have to play in Perth and Melbourne? Even when they sacked Kohli, they didn't have a valid reason. They said that he did not win an ICC trophy. How many captains have won an ICC trophy? A lot of players finish their career despite not winning a trophy," Butt said in a video on his YouTube channel.
"So, did they win a trophy now? He was a quality captain. He wasn't the only reason why they failed to win a trophy. The team hasn't improved that much either since then," he added.
Butt stated, "If it was all about winning, and you needed a winning captain, it's not like MS Dhoni couldn't have played in T20Is. He is still fit. When he was there as a mentor during the T20 World Cup in UAE, only Kohli was as at fit as him. Visibly, no one looked fitter than him."
"I don't know what was the planning behind it. T20 cricket is being played so frequently. There's a World Cup in every two years, and there are franchise leagues as well. When you have someone who is fit, performing and ready to go, and especially when the player can lead the team tactically, then why not (play him)," he added.
"Virat Kohli was doing a great job, it was unfortunate that he did not win an ICC title. But the think-tank could have thought about what were the reasons for not winning? It was not like if you remove Virat Kohli, everything will be taken care of. The drastic change resulted in Virat Kohli's poor form, I am sure he would have suffered mentally”.
"The rest of the guys have thought that if such a thing can happen to that person who has performed, so what will happen with us. Then the rest of the guys also get insecure about their spot within the team," he signed off.