Profiles: Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif

Profiles of the pair, who were convicted by a jury in London of conspiracy to cheat at gambling.


Afp November 01, 2011

LONDON: Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were found guilty Tuesday of involvement in a "spot-fixing" betting scam.

Here are profiles of the pair, who were convicted by a jury in London of conspiracy to cheat at gambling, with Butt also found guilty of conspiring to accept corrupt payments.

Salman Butt (Left-handed opening batsman)

Age: 27

Tests: 33; Runs: 1,889; Highest score: 122; Average: 30.46; 100s: 3; 50s: 10

ODIs: 78; Runs: 2,725; Highest score: 136; Average: 36.82; 100s: 8; 50s: 14

T20s: 24; Runs: 595; Highest score: 74; Average: 28.33; 50s: 3

Butt was handed the Test captaincy after Shahid Afridi quit following a one-sided defeat against Australia at Lord's in July last year.

Pakistan defeated Australia in the next match by three wickets at Leeds, their first win over the Aussies for 15 years, and hopes of a new era were high.

Emerging from the streets of Lahore, Butt represented Pakistan at all levels, leading Pakistan to the Asian Under-15 title in 1999 and then impressing in the Junior World Cup in 2002.

His brilliant, match-winning 108 not out in a one-day match against India at Kolkata in November 2004 set his career on the right track and although he flitted in and out of the squad, his talent was never in doubt.

Under former coach Bob Woolmer, Butt's career flourished with hundreds at Sydney in January 2005 and against Ashes-winning England at Multan in November 2005.

His third and last Test ton came at Hobart in January 2010.

Mohammad Asif (Right arm fast-medium bowler)

Age: 28

Tests: 23; Balls: 5,171; Runs: 2,583; Wickets: 106; Best bowling: 6/41; Average: 24.36; 5wkt inns: 7; 10wkt matches: 1

ODIs: 38; Balls: 1,941; Runs 1,524; Wickets: 46; Best bowling: 3/28; Average 33.13

T20s: 11; Balls: 257; Runs: 343; Wickets: 13; Best bowling: 4/18; Average: 26.38

It was under Pakistan's English coach Bob Woolmer that Asif blossomed as a swing bowler.

Woolmer picked him for Pakistan's tour to Australia and although Asif went wicketless on his debut Test in Sydney in 2005, he never lost faith in the lithe and determined fast bowler.

Asif claimed 10 wickets in a Pakistan A against an England XI later that year and was brought back into the national side for Pakistan's final Test against India at home in 2006.

He took seven wickets in the win over India, including the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, at Karachi, helping Pakistan clinch the series.

He followed it with 11 victims in Pakistan's Test win at Kandy, taking 17 wickets in the two Tests against Sri Lanka. His 'five-for' also helped Pakistan beat South Africa in the Port Elizabeth Test in 2007.

Following a series of disciplinary problems, an elbow injury forced him out of the 2007 World Cup.

In England last year, he took 23 wickets in six Tests, two against Australia and four against the hosts.

COMMENTS (8)

R S JOHAR | 12 years ago | Reply

PCB is clearly guilty of bailing out Asif a number of times which encouraged others to indulge in this murky business.

Billoo Bhaya | 12 years ago | Reply Veena Malik's prayers have been answered. Asif defaulted on paying back her Rs1.5 crores that he had borrowed from the young lady and broke Veena's heart by reneging on his promise of marriage. Allah knows the secrets in our hearts and prevented Veena from marrying. Now hopefully Asif will go to jail and Veena will rise in stardom, fame and fortune. Fame and infamy are in Allah's hands.
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