Mike Hesson doesn’t seem to truly understand what modern cricket is: Salman Butt

Former Pakistan opening batter Salman Butt has slammed the Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson following the team’s two-wicket defeat to England as the latter made it to the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Butt stated that he isn’t able to understand Hesson’s logic in the ongoing showpiece event, adding that he doesn’t even truly understand what modern cricket theories are. 

"I honestly don't understand the coach's logic. Who is picked, who is dropped, who bats where-none of it makes sense. When to bowl someone, when to take them off, match-ups... he's memorised a few non-cricketing terms. He talks about strike rates and modern cricket, but neither he nor anyone else seems to truly understand what modern cricket is,” Butt said on his YouTube channel. 

"He keeps mentioning power hitting, but where is it? What work has been done with these players? Who is actually hitting sixes? Our batters can't seem to play any shot other than towards mid-wicket,” he added.

Additionally, Butt also criticised the team’s preparation on poor pitches in Pakistan against Australia ahead of the mega event, adding that the home series didn’t help Pakistan for international conditions in Sri Lanka.

"You played all your pre-World Cup series on low, slow, gripping pitches-basically substandard surfaces, did you really think Sri Lanka's pitches would be similar? Was this an ICC event or were we preparing for a home series?” he questioned. 

Delving into the details of the game between England and Pakistan, the latter batted first and posted a good-looking total of 164/9 in 20 overs, courtesy of Sahibzada Farhan's 63-run knock. Liam Dawson scalped a three-wicket haul. In the chase, England finished the game in 19.1 overs with two wickets in hand. Captain Harry Brook smacked a 100-run knock off 51 balls.

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