‘It is like discussing best captains and forgetting MS Dhoni’ – Salman Butt lambasts ICC for ignoring Babar Azam in World Cup promo

Babar Azam. (Photo Source: ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt has expressed his dissatisfaction with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) promo video for the Cricket World Cup, which will be held in India in October-November.

The 38-year-old lambasted ICC for omitting Pakistan captain Babar Azam from the promo, claiming that his fans’ wrath was legitimate. He also remarked it as ‘biased’ and used the example of renowned cricketers MS Dhoni and Imran Khan not being featured in the list of best captains in the history of the game.

“It is not a big deal. Babar is not dying to be in a promo. His fans aren’t happy with this, and their anger is justified. It is like talking about the best batter in world cricket and not speaking about someone with hundred centuries, or discussing the best captains and forgetting MS Dhoni, Ian Chappell, and Imran Khan. It will surely look biased,” Butt said on his YouTube channel.

The former Pakistan opener went on to say that the world no. 1 ODI batter was intentionally left out and that it was not an honest mistake on the part of the governing body. Notably, only Shaheen Shah Afridi was celebrated in the clip, with Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, and Mohammad Amir also featuring.  

Watch the promo here: 

History will be written and dreams will be realised at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 🏆

All it takes is just one day ✨ pic.twitter.com/A88Lvq8pUC

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 20, 2023

“They didn’t forget him. It is a thing that has been going on for a long time now. It is not something that can be forgotten. The promo was not made by a kid who would have forgotten. This just shows the mindset of the people who made this promo. If World No.1 is missing from the World Cup advertisement, this tells your state of mind,” he added.

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar had earlier chastised ICC for leaving out Azam from the promo video. The ‘Rawalpindi Express’ vented his displeasure with a tweet, labelling the video a ‘joke.’

“Whoever thought that World Cup promo will be complete without Pakistan & Babar Azam’s significant presence, has actually presented himself as a joke. Come on guys, time to grow up a bit,” Akhtar’s tweet read.

Whoever thought that World Cup promo will be complete without Pakistan & Babar Azam’s significant presence, has actually presented himself as a joke.
Come on guys, time to grow up a bit.

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) July 22, 2023