Match Point
Butt, where is the shame?

Butt, where is the shame?

How dare Salman Butt give his "expert" views about the World Cup on TV? Hasn't he caused enough drama already?

Atika Rehman February 17, 2011

“I am not playing in the event, I thought it was worth participating as an expert,” said Salman Butt when he was asked to comment on his recent decision to appear as a cricket commentator for the World Cup on a local news channel.

I am outraged at his decision, and my anger is the result of a bruised cricket-loving ego.

Salman Butt lost the right to associate himself with cricket the day the ICC proved him a liar and cheater. His cockiness regarding the matter is appalling; it’s almost like he’s telling the world “they were just no-balls, it’s not a big deal.”

Let’s leave the question of the legality of his decision aside; this will be determined by the ICC which is currently verifying whether or not Butt’s decision has breached its terms.

When the players were exposed and their central contracts were suspended, I was holding firmly onto the adage “they are innocent till they are proven guilty.” The ICC tribunal proved their guilt, and the judgment that has been published online for the world to see screams one fact: Salman Butt is guilty. He conspired with Amir, Asif and Mazhar Majeed to have those no balls bowled and made money off the deal. He cheated.

And after all the deceit, he has the nerve to appear on a news channel and give his “expert” views on a sport that he has shamed?

When Hanse Cronje was questioned for match-fixing, he admitted that had not been “entirely honest” about taking bribes, and confessed that he had accepted money to fix matches.

Butt, on the other hand, continues to deny his guilt, and may do so till he goes blue in the face. When the verdict was announced, he expressed “disappointment” about the ban and “unfair” trial, and vowed to appeal to the ICC to reduce the punishment.

I don’t want to know what Butt has to say about cricket, unless he apologises to the world for being a liar and cheater. What qualifies him as an expert? An expert on under the table deals; on disgracing a nation or being so thick-skinned that he will not stop at anything for some quick, easy money?

The news channel that has signed this contract with him has shown that it is a forum where liars and cheaters will be entertained. If the deal does go through, I sincerely hope the hosts take live calls. I have many questions for the shameless cricket expert.

WRITTEN BY:
Atika Rehman

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

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COMMENTS (53)

Ahsan Khan | 13 years ago | Reply This person has no right to represent Pakistan who brought a terrible name to the sport and an even worse it shattered the image of our national sportsmen (as if mr 10% havnt ruined our national rep already). I hope he (and the others) gets convicted and gets 10yrs of hard labour.

Abdul Rahman Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Hope the ICC whose Haroon Logart has already taken notice of will take serious view and punish the disgraced cricketer on top of his trial he is facing for spot fixing. His punishment for 'expert' comments should run consecutively.

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Shumaila | 13 years ago | Reply 2 wrongs never make a right, people are giving example that lot of other criminals are roaming freely in this country than y not the great Salman Butt? we have to start from some where, all three should be in Jail atleast for 6 months and all their assets should be taken from them which they have made because of cricket after that they should be allowed to come back and play domestic to prove them selves again. Punishment is must and should be for everybody not only for the weaks. if we won't punish them and leave them enjoying their life like stars on the roads than it will give a very bad signal to our youth and they will praise them and find short cuts for making quick money.

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply WHY he and other two are not in the jail yet???? Come on people he cheated and disgraced this nation. What exactly we have become :(

JS | 13 years ago | Reply What message are we conveying to the world? There is a guy in Pakistan who cheated, made alot of money, faked innocence, destroyed career of a bright talent, and brought shame to the whole country. We are still giving him celebrity status, inviting him to come on TV and earn more money for providing his crooked opinion on gentlemen's game. The guy has no shame or whatsoever. He is still not accepting his mistakes. Had he accepted his crime and co-operated with ICC earlier, the whole situation could have been different. He could be forgiven as everyone is vulnerable to make mistakes. But to commit a crime, and then keep fooling the entire nation is just not acceptable. The issue is ethical rather legal.

NFI | 13 years ago | Reply @Turab Saigol: Oh please. Your legal interpretation is abominable. Just answer this one question. Does Channel XYZ come under the ICC's jurisdiction? NO. The tribunal HAS said it is NOT a violation of the code.

NFI | 13 years ago | Reply Erm.. With all due respect, I do hope you know that in the Tribunal judgement, it was clearly written that it cannot be proven beyond reasonable doubt that the trio had taken MONEY to fix those no balls. This is coming from someone who HAS read the entire 102 page document. Secondly, on what basis should ICC take further action against him? Last time I remembered, private TV channels do not come under the umbrella of the ICC nor the PCB. And the tribunal HAS overruled ICC in this regard and allowed Butt to commentate as it does not violate his terms. He's a fixer, he's been proven as a fixer and now he's serving his (effectively) 5 yr ban. End of chapter. Thirdly - get a grip. If you have such issues with him coming on TV, pick up the remote and change the channel. I'm not trying to defend him or anything, but seriously despite it all, he's got a family to support. The channel's using him to earn a few measly ratings and Butt's getting a paycheck off from it. A sad state of situation, but something that wont get you anywhere if you rant about it :/

Zohaib | 13 years ago | Reply Well your anger is justified because if i put my self in his shoes i would prefer hiding my face like an ostrich rather than appearing on a TV channel ......the other point of view is that there is no crime which has two punishments , he already got his share through the ban which has ended his career , he has the right to earn his bread and butter ,,,,,

SUB | 13 years ago | Reply @ All those bashing Butt & the TV channel hiring his expertise. I think being a cheater, he can give us a better idea of whats going on out there in the field. HeHe

SUB | 13 years ago | Reply @Atika: In answer to your subject line: Down the drain. HeHe

Asad Shairani | 13 years ago | Reply He is all the words we can't write here - shame on him!

AHZ | 13 years ago | Reply I am not opposing you, but I want to mention one point that Does Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus, Aqib Javed, Saleem Malik, Ijaz Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed and Inzimam ul Haq ever also feel shame. They all considered GURU of Pakistan Cricket, but the fact that they all are named in the report of Justice (retrd) Abdul Qayyum. The report even mentioned that Wasim Akram should not consider for any post in future by PCB. Look at Wasim Akram, he enjoys all benefits and priviliges. I am agreeing on your thoughts but on the same time we should also look the facts and figure. During that tour all of the following occupying the position: Waqar Younus, Aqib Javed, Ijaz Ahmed. The trend setters are there to attract the young guns.

Turab Saigol | 13 years ago | Reply In addition to my earlier comment (and the morality of the issue aside) - Article 6.5 of the ICC Code clearly states that “no Player .. who has been declared Ineligible may, during the period of Ineligibility .. otherwise participate or be involved in any capacity in any International Match .. function, event (‘event’ being further defined as including the ICC World Cup) or activity .. that is authorised, organised, sanctioned, recognised or supported in any way by the ICC”. Therefore, Salman Butt’s role as a pundit/commentator on the ICC World Cup is clearly in violation of the terms of his sentence. Article 6.6 of the ICC Code further states that “a Player .. who is subject to a period of Ineligibility shall remain subject to the Anti-Corruption Code during that period”, therefore, clearly binding him to the ICC Code during this period.

Musadiq khan | 13 years ago | Reply @Asad : "It’s because of ICC’s leniency/incompetence in the past that today corruption in cricket prevails. Unfortunately, its our team and our country." You might wanna remind Mr Lorgat to apply the same over Suresh Raina then Asad. Butt only appeared on a TV channel, Raina's still in the WC '11 team. What is ICC, an agency who victimizes only Pakistan? What's pathetic is the injustice, not the 10 year punishment on Butt (even which is baseless for the record, but for me will do).

Asit | 13 years ago | Reply One of the most shameless guys you can ever come across...if the youngsters watching this game are to be saved, all the three should be banned for life from any thing relating to cricket.

Sundus Sarfaraz | 13 years ago | Reply @Musadiq khan: The rage is just because Mr. Salman has been proved guilty but he is still denying.He should atleast confess and apologize.I think nobody wants a liar to give his so called expert views on cricket ..huh

IZ | 13 years ago | Reply Agree with you 100%. We keep on coddling and promoting the corrupt in our society. Why?

SID | 13 years ago | Reply I was reading this article which was very interesting and something that I completely agree with. However what caught my eye was Mr. Musadiq's comments. I am sorry to say sir but you have the nerve to actually defend a cheat and a liar, You are worried about his livelihood when he sold the country's honor for a mere thousands of pounds. Either you are Mr.Butt himself disguised with your name or you really need to mature in your thinking. This was not to malign you in anyway, however I really wanted to let you that people with the thinking like you are the reason why our country is full of theives, liars and cheats at our top most levels,

Farasat ALi | 13 years ago | Reply This is Personal life of Salman Butt. He has already out from the cricket. Now we should not criticize on his personal act.He already faced many criticism now we should leave this topic. No doubt he was a good player and he can become expert

Deen Sheikh | 13 years ago | Reply Butt has gotta go..... apparently according to the ICC report, he showed no signs of remorse or guilt for his involvement in the Spot Fixing Scandal.

Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Great article Atika. These people have no shame seriously!

Said Chaudhry | 13 years ago | Reply Agreed. Only thing Butt should be doing is sitting at home, watching the worldcup from his tv while lamenting his decisions from last summer. Butt has scored 5 ODI 100's against India and has a stellar record in India, he really shot himself in the foot as he would've been a vital component for us at the top of the order. Doesn't he have a case to answer in England next month? Out of all the ex cricketers available, why choose Butt to be an analyst? The question needs to be asked of the producers of this tv show.

Leena | 13 years ago | Reply I agree that he should admit his crime, that would be the dignified thing to do, (not that there is much dignity left) but at the same time I think its unrealistic to expect him to sit at home and repent. He needs an income, they gave him a job, he's doing it. Also, at some level we have all been liars or cheaters and not fessed up to it. They have enough troubles at this point, and ICC has them by the throat, so lets leave it at that. No point hating.

parvez | 13 years ago | Reply Excellent write up and I fully agree with you. Also liked the way you managed to let your anger come through in your writing. I for one will not watch the channel that has Salman Butt on it. Just as I refuse to watch the channel that has Aamir Liaquat on it. It may not be much but to me it is important.

it | 13 years ago | Reply Great blog Atika. Couldn't agree with you more. As for everyone who is giving the argument that we can't take away his right to make a living let me give you an example. Let's just take someone who is proven to have stolen from the people of Pakistan and parade them around on the international stage as an expert. Oh wait, we already do that with all our 'expert' politicians. It's these sorts of attitudes from us Pakistanis that have put our country where it is now. For once, step out and try to see the larger picture and where our morals have gone. By accepting these sorts of things we (the educated class who is reading, writing, commenting on the internet) have made a mockery out of our nation for 90% of the people who do not have the same privileges as us and further deteriorated EVERYONES lives.

M | 13 years ago | Reply Jobi yar

Rahul | 13 years ago | Reply the concerned channel lacks any sense of responsibility and peoples felings

faraz | 13 years ago | Reply Butt was my class fellow at Beaconhouse Garden Town Lahore; he should be banned, he was pretty rich before entering international cricket, he shouldnt be allowed to give expert opinions.

Hamood | 13 years ago | Reply Butt will be giving his expert opinion on cheating and selling out your country.

Saad Durrani | 13 years ago | Reply @The Only Normal Person Here.: LOL! @Atika: Is it essential to over-react on everything? He cannot play but he can watch and comment. If he is hired as an expert, there is nothing big about it. The channel that hired him is rarely followed. It has no TRP. We have Imran Khan on GEO and Wasim Akram on HUM. Can Butt beat those two?

karim | 13 years ago | Reply liar and cheater..............proper words for S Butt. agree with u and i do will call to ask some question from the ''expert'......ROF

Angelos | 13 years ago | Reply why dont also boycott the channel which asked him to come on their channel???

The Only Normal Person Here. | 13 years ago | Reply Who cares about shame, he has to live up to his last name.

Turab Saigol | 13 years ago | Reply The shock of it aside, just imagine a scenario where a no-ball is bowled by the Pakistani bowlers and the question(s) posed by the fellow-commentator to Salman Butt ‘do you think that was genuine or … ?’ then again ‘how much is the going rate in your opinion?’. Despite the seriousness of it all, i can't help but LOL !!!

Asad | 13 years ago | Reply @ Musadiq Khan Since you put it "Few questions for all of you...!!!" Let me answer your queries 1) I already mentioned in my previous comment that the ICC is being a bit 'childish' and needs to grow up. Dogging Butt like this seems to be an over kill. So "all" of us don't agree with the articles' author on this one. 2) We are absolutely justified to take it to a "personal level' as you put it in your comment. I was one of those who would be glued to the TV 5 days on a trot, following every ball of the day. Only to find out that people none other than our very captain were busy minting money meanwhile. We cheer for these 11 in victory or defeat, we back them up unconditionally, it hurts when you find out that a mockery is being made of us and our name for a stack of euros. Yes sir, we have every right to take it "personally" 3) A mere comment on your 3rd question. You are right, "Big names" in the past were let off the hook easy. I repeat, ICC's stance on Butts appearance in a TV show sounds absurd. But if they keep a close eye on people like Butt, they have all the right to do so. It's because of ICC's leniency/incompetence in the past that today corruption in cricket prevails. Unfortunately, its our team and our country. My plea to everyone: Let's not worry about Butt's employment, he earned enough from one test match to last him a few good years. So lets not assume he won't survive from not having a "livelihood" Its about time we stop worrying about petty things like someones job or "love for cricket' and focus more on realizing whats wrong with us in the first place and trying to rectify it.

dushman e zamana | 13 years ago | Reply Isnt the inadmission of guilt or repent a predicament of pakistan as a nation. A nation in denial....The apple as they say does not fall far from the tree....

Moiz Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply If there is anything that proves their guilt, which is likely to be so. Then some one should move the court for treason against the trio. Some example needs to be set. I personally would fight the case free of charge. It is unlikely that this will account as treason due to the technacalities in the law requiring challenging the writ og government but these guys betrayed the nation, sold it to the enemies and that too cheaply when it is priceless. Never felt ashamed of being a Pakistani but when I think of this saga, my head bows in shame. I will definately loose this one but perhaps a criminal case under s. 420 PPC should also be filed just to harass these betrayers! But something must be done, simple lifebans are NOT enough!!

Musadiq khan | 13 years ago | Reply Few questions for all of you...!!! 1) Can you deprive someone from his right to acquire his livelihood??? 2) ICC imposed ban on him. Now he won't be playing cricket for at least 5 years I suppose. Is it ok to take it personal level and showing concern on his role of cricket pundit?? 3) "Salman Butt lost the right to associate himself with cricket the day the ICC proved him a liar and cheater". ROFL...........Mam don't take umbrage but this line is good for nothing!!! I suppose you don't know or you are pretending k you are unaware what happened in past. Big names like wasim, waqar, warne, Mrak waugh and others were involved in match fixing and providing info to the bookies. Did they ever lost the right to associate them with cricket???????

Asad | 13 years ago | Reply I regret that Butt might not end up on this show. Clips from his show would have made incredibly humorous/entertaining feedback comments on youtube. I regret missing it all now. Thank you ICC! On a more serious note, hats off to all of you who think of the trio as cheats. Someone rightly said " We need to change our approach towards people like Butt." I hope our lack of sympathy towards them helps the greater cause.

Ali | 13 years ago | Reply ICC is a joke

Ani | 13 years ago | Reply But let him be now. His career is over. Now let him rehabilitate himself and find a new life. He will have to apologise to be accepted as a commentator soon enough. Better hearing Butt than many others on TV. He deserves a second chance.

mohammad shaheen | 13 years ago | Reply good one he is a disgrace to pakistan cricket !

umair | 13 years ago | Reply i dont think that tv channel will be aware of the terms and conditions surrounding the ban on Butt,,,on the other hand, both parties (Butt) and Tv channels want to make money,,,its the Butt who should be cautious of taking on this assignment as he as to face the consequences of breaching the terms and conditions and not the tv channel,,,,

Amer | 13 years ago | Reply 100000000000000000000000% agree with you!

Adeel | 13 years ago | Reply well i am just thinking does he have any skill to act as an expert?? was he really something to that level while he played cricket??? just a few hundreds on dead wicket and a win against Australia which we could have get anyway if we played well.

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply I still question the ICC verdict against the players. If he really cheated, then he got his punishment. But he is associated with cricket. Do you want ICC to look what he is doing anything related to cricket. If he plays street cricket they will question again... If he watch matches ICC will questions again.. If he give comments ICC will question again.. WTH .. ICC have already punished him for being guilty. But they donot have right to question how one is going to earn money. He can even open a cricket academy its up to him. Dont get personal ..!!

Maryam | 13 years ago | Reply totally agree with u.. i TV channel who hired him sud be banned...what the hell...now a cheater will give his so called expert opinion... :@

Waqas Malik | 13 years ago | Reply Is morality an issue here now?? Time to think , We all are the part of this whole attitude. We need to change our approach towards people like Butt. Lets not be a puppet.

Asad | 13 years ago | Reply Your anger and emotions on the matter are justified and I am sure they are shared by many "Green" fans across the country. But its about time the ICC grows up as well. It did what it had to do and it did well. In principal, it seems wrong for Butt to be an expert commentator on the game he defamed so much himself, but again, this is his decision and not much of ICC's business in my opinion. Again this is my opinion as I'm not aware of what exactly does the ICC's 'code' say about such an event. I guess they weren't expecting it as well, and so soon! Pakistan Cricket never runs out of surprises.

Mudassar Nawaz | 13 years ago | Reply 200% agreed!

Musadiq khan | 13 years ago | Reply **ludicrous!!!! I don't agree with you on this. Mahnnn....this is not done. How could you guys and ICC do this. Everyone has a right to acquire his livelihood and so has he. Your points does not hold water. Hes has been banned from playing cricket but not for playing a role of a cricket pundit on a private TV channel. ICC consider it as breach against the terms of his suspended sentence, Then I suppose breathing without permission ought to be breaching the terms of ICC's code of stories too x)

Selina Gilani - Relationship | 13 years ago | Reply Salman butt is not playing the cricket, thats what his punishment is. He is going in commentary, whats wrong in that, i dont see any solid point. I just a personal anger in this article

Dr. Amyn Malik | 13 years ago | Reply Agree with you totally on this one! Actually, I blame the TV channel more than I blame Butt simply because Butt is in the money making buisness. If he could take money to fix matches he was bound to take money to appear on camera. It should be the responsibility of the media to uphold sanctions and not invite cheats and liars on their forums!

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Butt, where is the shame?

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