Inspired by Imran Khan, Pakistan skipper Salman Butt sets high standards

He acknowledges elder statesmen have often been the men favoured to lead Pakistan, but takes issue with the premise that age should come before cricketing nous.

"It is true in a way that it has been like that ufffd you always give it to the senior people," he said.

"But if anybody is better, or better equipped, to lead a team ufffd it is the right of the nation to have that person in charge, rather than a person who is old.

"Whoever can deal with the situation better, handle things better, it's the right of the nation to have that person."

World Cup-winner and great all-rounder Imran is the man Butt believes personifies the style he hopes to emulate. He said: "Imran was the greatest captain of all time that Pakistan have had. It was the courage he showed ufffd because when he started he had very limited resources, and he picked players who hadn't even played first-class cricket and he made them world-beaters. To pick a person from nowhere, and know the ability he has will shine for him one day, is something to admire. Then the courage to put them in straight away, and allow them to be themselves, is something not many people have."

Butt is happy to give his team licence to play with their natural flair. "That is the best way for a person to do well ufffd relax and be yourself. When you try to be something else, I don't think it works for most people."

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