File photo of Salman Butt.
Cricketer Salman Butt confessed to his crimes on Friday, Express News reported.
He also apologised to his fans for hurting their sentiments and requested the PCB acting Chairman Najam Sethi to reduce his sentence.
“Two more years are left before the ban is lifted, please allow me to at least play domestic cricket,” he requested Sethi.
Butt had received a 10-year ban, five years of which were suspended, following a probe of the deliberate bowling of no balls at a Test match in London in 2010.
The cricketer was found guilty by both the game’s governing body and a British court of receiving money.
COMMENTS (51)
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@S. Sreesanth:
I wish every country should be like India, where when someone is caught cheating in cricket in IPL or other format, should not be charged and the blame should be put on Pakistani umpire.
I am happy from the comment that Pakistanis are discouraging his act unlike India where IPL stars are still praised like Gods
I am sure he wants to join PTI .
@Pacifica:
As much as one can feel sorry for Aamir, the fact remains that donning the green means a sacred pledge to uphold the respect and integrity of the flag, the country and its people. Aamir's deliberate actions were the cause of severe humiliation for the country, its people and tantamount to treachery. He should never ever be allowed to represent Pakistan in any form anywhere in the world.
Its quite clear Butt has cold-bloodedly calculated that accepting guilt now will give him a chance to play again.
I feel sorry for that young boy Aamer, stuck with a treacherous fellow like this Butt as his captain. But at least Aamer had the guts to admit his guilt when caught. He even stoically served his jail term accepting the righteousness of the punishment while this Butt kept squealing his innocence. The boy turned out to be more of a man than the two "men" (Butt and Asif) who led him astray.
@SAK:
What part did Shahid Afridi play in exposing these crooks? Shahid Afridi just recently claimed that he was aware that something fishy was going on with the players in question and he notified the management in this regard. Yet he contradicts himself by saying that he recommended Salman Butt to be his replacement as captain.
Using the upper deck was never really Afridi's forte.
We should be thankful to the Goras and Shahid Afridi's part in exposing the spot fixing saga. And please don't come up again with the idea of being innocent blaming it on some pressure situation. You owe an apology to Afridi as well for all the politics and badmouthing afterwards.
Butt knew there are openings in batting lineup after Champions Trophy. Smart Move
Everyone calm down, Remember this is the PCB we are talking about, Not only will he be pardoned, But selected for the future team.
My advise to Salman would be to forget about playing cricket in future. From his words, deeds and actions and of course punishment, he will be well advised and very successful for a role in politics in Pakistan - Salman for PM in next election?
So not only did he tarnish the reputation of the national team (as then-captain, the majority of responsibility falls on his shoulders), but he tried to deny it for the past 3 years. Now that PCB is getting a makeover he is desperate for his last chance. He should be made an example and banned from playing domestic or international cricket for life, period. I wonder how his family feels about this.
Apologize for what, from last 3 years he was saying that he wasn't involved in this scandal and today said that he confess what is this, you don't deserve a second chance even at domestic level.
Wonder what the TV anchors such as Mubashir Luqman who were defending Salman Butt and blaming it on some India/West conspiracy to cause Pakistan lose the upcoming world cup, have to say about this. As for Salman Butt, you are the most dispecable and pitiful person I have ever seen in international cricket. And the fact that you come from an educated urban background and were the captain of the team is even more pathetic. You should not only be banned for life, you should be put back in jail for lying to the nation and screaming conspiracy all these years. People like you disgust me.
He makes Aamer looks so much better.
Now have the decency to come clean and tell the full story in detail, in order to clean up the game as much as possible. That way you will redeam some of your lost self reapect.
Damn ! you blew it man!...you sold the country for few pennies...but, hey, you are the one got caught....how about those who dont get caught?
PCB should ban him for life because he was the captain and was supposed to set an example!
BCCI is behind his confession so that he can play for IPL and help it to make more money.
@ivehadit: I agree with you. I wish everyone country could be like Pakistan and the PCB. What I wouldn't give to dismiss it as a "gora:conspiracy", claim innocence for a few years while being paid to be an expert on TV and then make a deal with the new Cricket Board head (Najam Sethi) to admit guilt so that I can play cricket once again? India sure could use a Mallu-speaking fast bowler who has more spins in his run-up than his bowling. I wish also in India people gave credibility to one being guilty only if he admitted to any guilt. Hafeez Saeed springs to mind. What a charmed life he has! Seriously though, I still won't forgive him. Nevertheless if Navjot Singh Sidhu (charged with murder) and Ajay Jadeja (match-fixing) can have their show on IPL, how about me getting my own day in the sun? I can dance better than either of them. Y'all have seen it, haven't you?
Ok..but who cares for you now. You have betrayed millions for few hundred pounds.
Der ayad, durust bhi na ayad.
Now waht do talat hussain, mubashir luqman, kashif abbasi say who were calling it a conspiracy?
It means that he had been lying under oath all along, lying to the public, the ICC and PCB, lying under oath to British Courts and the Appeals Tribunal….the British Courts should call for his extradition, try him for perjury and jail him again
You lied and should be banned for whole life
should never be picked to play for Pakistan!
just on appointment of najam sethi as pcb chairman someone advised Salman butt to confess to the crime and apologise for your spot fixing and we will help you reduce ur ban! - simple :)
And because you lied consistently on TV and made a fool out of us you should be banned for life !
You do not have a cricketer's character, this is a gentleman's game. Stay away please.
No, we dont need you anymore.. you fraud
This Guy not did just corruption to earn lot of Money. He bring bad name for whole Pakistan. Tv and print media should not give him any space or coverage in future.
Dont be sorry, be proud and stand tall like all other pakistanies... we as a nation are behind you, as u r just like the rest of us...
I would like to read what the Pakistan ambassador to uk has to say now
now that the newly appointed Chairman mentioned he will raise the issue of reducing Amir's ban in the ICC meeting (as absurd as it is), Butt wants to cash in, too. Ban him for life.
The only reason that he has confessed to the crime is so that he can give himself a chance to play cricket after another two and half years, after which the compulsory ban finishes. A lot of the ppl don't know that asif and butt were also banned for a period of 5 years with further time stipulated for suspension in the event the said players continue not to admit guilt and cooperate with the anti corruption unit. Now that Butt has already served 2 and a half years, he knows that if he confesses, he can 'participate' in the anti corrutption program and be in contention to play after completing the mandatory five years ban. What a bloddy calculated hypocrite. Amir at least had the audacity to admit his mistake prior to the hearing in the UK.
So now when he has nothing left to get his ban reduced, his resorts to admitting and apologizing. Ban him for life. You not only cheated the country, you kept lying for 3 years!
I am sure Asif will still claim to be innocent. But more importantly, what about the conspiracy theorists blaming anti-Pakistan forces for this?
@Pandey: your sanctimonious comment is a bit out of place given the recent events in IPL and attempts to blame Pakistanis for it.
I have no sympathy for Mr. Butt. He maligned Pakistan's name and put the entire team under a cloud. He should contribute some time to community service, perhaps groom young cricketers for batting skills that Pakistan sorely needs.
Its too late Mr.Btt u r delinquent of the NATION U decry the PAKISTAN .I think u will BAN FOR LIFE TIME.
He should have been banned for life! This is an example of how human will take a chance, whether in love or life (money) and if caught as forgiveness. Those who follow, do the same. If there is a system to prevent this recurring, it should be implemented in its strictness; no ifs or buts
Mr Butt, only if you had accepted your fault and not lied to everyone, the sentence might have been much lower and you'd probably be playing cricket right now.
PCB Chairman should accept his apology only if Mr. Butt is willing to donate all the illegal money to poor people.
You cannot confess to your crime, Butt. You will seriously hurt the sentiments of conspiracy theorists and their blind followers.... You see, they have already blamed Hindu BCCI and West to malign the good name of Pakistan.
The true Cricket followers already knew you were in the wrong but won't confess to it.
Go away!
Too little too late
Actually, I never doubted for a minute whether Salman Butt was guilty. Unfortunately, this late admission on his part does little to improve his image in my eyes. He vehemently denied it for so many years and even served out a prison sentence. The time for this confession was before the trial, not now.
Sorry, but I think you are a bad influence, have set a bad example and should remain permanently barred from cricket. Go back to school and get some other degree but please stay away from cricket.
I hope ICC can expunge the personal records of all cricketers found guilty of match fixing.
He should be banned for life.
Like a hardened criminal Butt not just committed the selling out for money but continued lying for years in an angry voice. His apology is not to disclose everything he did but to get his ban reduced when there is no other way left. The apology should have been prompt with complete cooperation and without dragging the legal process and not when there is no other option left. Butt does not deserve any leniency in fact his punishment is not severe enough.
What took so long? Also, obviously he had been lying all along in his numerous TV appearances.
That 10 year ban should be changed to a life ban now.
and he lied to the nation for last 3 years! No More sympathy for a thief & a liar!
get a life man...