Mike Hussey doesn’t want Salman Butt back in international cricket

Mr Cricket says he can sympathise with Amir but not with the left-hand batsman

Former Australia batsman Mike Hussey is of the opinion that Salman Butt, former Pakistan captain who was the main perpetrator of the 2010 spot-fixing scandal which also included Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, should not be allowed to make a return to international cricket.

“If I am being honest, it doesn’t sit well with me,” Hussey told Fox Sports News 500. “Some would argue he has done his time and been allowed back in, much like Amir. But you’ve got to remember Amir was a 17-year-old kid being directed by Butt to do the wrong thing.”

Mr Cricket said he was able to sympathise with Amir, but not with Butt.

“I have a bit more sympathy for Amir,” said Hussey. “But Salman Butt, it doesn’t sit well to have him back in international cricket.”

Another former Australian cricketer, right-arm pacer Ryan Harris, agreed with Hussey and said that he was not a big fan of the left-hand batsman’s return.

“I’m not a big fan of it to be honest,” said Harris. “I know Mohammad Amir is playing here and I’m 50-50 on that. I obviously don’t think he should be here but he was 17 years old he was quite young. Whether that was an excuse, I’m still trying to work that out myself.”

He continued: “But Butt, the captain, who told his players to go out and cheat, there’s no room for that in the game. I’m not sure how the opposition players would take playing against him for one, but definitely not. I know he’s done the crime, done the time, but I still think that was a pretty lenient time, five years.”

Butt was recently named the man-of-the final in Pakistan’s premier domestic tournament the Quaid-e-Azam trophy where his tons in each innings led his team WAPDA to their maiden title.

“I hope the bad days are over,” Butt had said after the final. “I have gone through difficult times but my wife, my family and friends supported me. I have knocked the door (of international cricket) very hard and hope this will pave my way for return to (the) Pakistan team.”