Butt determined for international return

Pakistan batsman Salman Butt, out of favour with the national selectors after a mixed year, says he plans to use the ongoing domestic season to make a comeback.

Butt hasn't been able to realise expectations despite an extended run in international cricket. He averages 28.65 in Tests while his ODI average of 38.42 hasn't been enough to preserve his place due to competition from Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal.

"The main thing for me at the moment is to score heavily in domestic cricket, stick to the basics and stick to my routines," Butt told Pakpassion.net after making 177 for National Bank of Pakistan against Lahore Shalimar in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. "I don't like to make changes just for the sake of it and I will stick to what I know best and go with what has helped me over the years... that should help me succeed at this point in my career."

Butt was a part of Pakistan's touring squad to Sri Lanka earlier this year but was dropped after making 0 and 28 in the opening Test in Galle, where his team collapsed to a 50-run defeat. He was left out of the subsequent ODI series and ignored for the Champions Trophy. But he's made an impression in the domestic circuit with a potentially match-winning century in his team's opening game in Lahore. "The wicket at the Gaddafi Stadium is a sporting one and I felt good out there," he said. "I was middling the ball nicely and it's great to get off to such a promising start in what is sure to be a very busy season for Pakistan."

When asked if he had been contacted by the PCB's selection committee, Butt said: "At the time that I was dropped, it was an interim selection committee, but now that the new committee has had time to settle into their roles, I'm hopeful that there will be contact from the selectors."