Butt: 'I want to score as many runs as possible'
Having helped Pakistan fight back from a position of little hope to one from where they can at least attempt to win, Salman Butt can be justifiably proud of his contribution to this turnaround
Cricinfo staff
15-Nov-2005
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Speaking to BBC Sport Urdu, Butt said of his innings: "I am glad that the
innings came when the team needed it most. The effort will only be good
though if we can win the match tomorrow. In the first innings, I should've
timed the shot that I got out to instead of trying to hit it so hard. I
thought about my dismissal a lot and the senior players also spoke to me.
Like in the second innings, they said I should have just tried to stay at
the crease which I did this time round."
The dismissal of Inzamam-ul-Haq, which ended his 135-run partnership with
Butt and precipitated a collapse of seven wickets for 75 runs, meant there
was more pressure on Butt to continue his innings. "My plan then was just to stay, but
I had a little lapse in concentration and the ball from Hoggard just
kicked up a little and caught the edge. But we will try our best now to
bowl them out tomorrow."
His maiden century was made against an equally accomplished attack in
Sydney last year, although Butt said this innings gave him more
satisfaction. "I think the team needed this innings more. The Sydney
century was in the first innings and, although I am very proud of that
innings, I think most players will agree that scoring in the second
innings is always more important. Mostly it was important today because
the team really needed it."
His performance was also significant because it came in the wake of
Pakistan's much-publicised problems with finding a settled opening
combination. Butt himself was dropped during the India tour early this
year after playing in the first Test at Mohali. On his recall to the side
in the Caribbean, he was again dropped after failures in the first Test, a
move which prompted the panic about Pakistan's lack of openers.
"Every player is under pressure when they don't perform and it is the same
for me. But the senior players in the team and the management backed me,
saying that this happens to everyone. For batsmen, failure is only ever a
matter of one ball. Now I just want to solve the problem we have with our
opening by scoring as many runs as possible for Pakistan, for as long as
possible."