Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt subtly criticized the fitness levels of Pakistani players, comparing them to “Egyptian mummies.”
Yesterday, Aaqib Javed, the interim white-ball head coach of Pakistan, shared that top-order batter Fakhar Zaman is dealing with some fitness issues and will be back in the team once he achieves full recovery.
Salman Butt, in a recent video on his official YouTube channel, spoke about Fakhar’s injury, while also raising concerns regarding the fitness levels of Pakistan’s players.
The former captain urged Pakistan players to embrace strength training as a crucial part of their fitness regimen.
“Yes, he [Aqib Javed] talked about Fakhar Zaman. We all know about his knee injury, but I think with age, Fakhar needs to work on his strength,” said Butt. “I’m telling you, every single one of our players needs to do strength training to stay fit as they grow older.”
He further explained that merely running is not enough, while emphasizing the importance of building muscle to enhance the player’s performance in modern-day cricket.
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“Whether it’s Fakhar or any other player, the way things are going now, they need strength training. It’s as simple as that. Just running isn’t going to achieve anything,” he added.
Salman Butt expressed strong criticism regarding the excessive use of athletic tapes, comparing players to Egyptian mummies.
“I look at these players and I’m amazed—there’s [athletic] tape on their knees, tape on their legs. They look less like athletes and more like mummies from the movies, wrapped in so many tapes,” he remarked.
The former captain emphasized the significance of muscle strength and encouraged players to develop their muscles, as this will help them prevent injuries and enhance their athletic performance.
“Instead of wrapping your bones with tape, wrap them with muscle. Don’t fear gaining muscle weight—muscle is heavier than fat, but it protects your bones, and it enhances your agility, speed, power, and explosive strength,” he stated.
“If you want to enhance your career and compete at a higher level. Whether you’re 18 or 35, this is essential for every player,” he concluded.