Lahore: Former Pakistani opener Salman Butt said the ‘mystery spinner’ came as no surprise to the Babar Azam-led team against Virat Kohli’s men in match 16 of the ICC men’s T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday
“Varun Chakravarthy might be a mystery bowler. But we play tape-ball cricket in our streets while growing up. In street cricket, every kid in Pakistan faces bowling with such finger movement (as Chakravarthy’s). So Varun Chakravarthy was no surprise to us,” Butt stated on his YouTube channel after Pakistan’s historic triumph over India.
Chakravarthy, who thrived for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season, was a far thing from his dangerous self when he faced Pakistan in the T20 World Cup on Sunday. He was deemed as the mystery spinner because of his bowling style. However, Chakravarthy had his share of struggles as he finished with figures of 0/33 from his four overs on Sunday.
“Similarly, Ajantha Mendis had come to play for Sri Lanka. He had troubled many teams but he does not have a good record against Pakistan. There was a time when Sri Lanka stopped playing him against Pakistan because we did not find his bowling a mystery,” he added.
“India missed a trick or two (during the game). Firstly, they didn’t induct enough pace into their pace battery. Secondly, instead of their classical spinners, they opted for a mystery spinner against Pakistan. For Pakistan batters, Varun is no mystery,” Butt reiterated.
