'Why is it that only Test cricket comes in the way?' - Salman Butt lashes out at Quinton de Kock after sudden Test retirement

Former Pakistan opener Salman Butt has come down hard on South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who announced a shocker retirement from Test cricket on December 30 after his team lost the Boxing Day Test against India by 113 runs to go down 1-0 in the three-match series.

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De Kock, 29, announced later on the same day his decision to retire from the longest format with immediate effect, citing his desire to spend more time with his family. The wicketkeeper-batter was set to miss the remaining Test series against India on account of the birth of his first child, but he admitted that he wishes to focus on his expanding family going forward, leading him to give up on the longest format, while he would continue for the Proteas in limited-overs formats.

“Quinton de Kock had been playing strange cricket for the last year and a half. He came to Pakistan as captain but did not continue in the role afterwards. Now, after playing one Test, he has announced his (Test) retirement. Such things spoil the team’s balance, the selection policy and affect the captain’s mindset,” Butt said on his YouTube chancel.

Butt stated that sudden retirement decision like this spoil the team environment, while he also highlighted that the modern-day players often prioritise franchise-based league cricket over playing for the nation.

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“Players have made sudden retirement a drama. Don’t you think of family when you play overseas leagues for nearly 2 months? Why is it that only Test cricket comes in the way? You are playing cricket in your own country in South Africa. This lack of interest is related to league cricket,” he added.

“Because cricket boards do not have a say in this, it is freedom at the cost of… I can’t explain. But some cricketers have started feeling that playing league cricket is enough. Why do they need to do the hard yards in Test cricket? This is not the attitude to play international cricket. Sorry, I have no good words for Quinton de Kock's retirement.”

De Kock finished his Test career with 3300 runs in 54 matches at an average of 38.82, with six hundreds and 22 fifties.