LAHORE: The wife of former captain Salman Butt gave birth to a baby boy just minutes before her husband was found guilty Tuesday of a "spot-fixing" betting scam during a match against England.
The 27-year-old's father told AFP by telephone from Lahore that the baby was born 30 minutes before the verdict, news that was splashed immediately all over Pakistani television stations.
"Salman Butt had a baby boy 30 minutes before the verdict came," his father, Zulfiqar Butt, told AFP, without giving the baby's name.
"It's a matter of great grief for us that Butt has been found guilty. We hope the Almighty will bring him out of this trouble because these are very difficult times for him and the family," he added.
The former Test captain was convicted at Southwark Crown Court of conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat at gambling, while fast bowler Mohammad Asif was found guilty of conspiracy to cheat.
Prosecutors alleged that they conspired with British agent Mazhar Majeed and fast bowler Mohammad Amir to deliver three intentional no-balls during the Lord's Test between Pakistan and England in August 2010.
The pair were charged after allegations about their involvement in spot-fixing appeared in the now-defunct News of the World tabloid, owned by Australian-born media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, shortly after the Lord's Test.
Butt and Asif, 28, had both pleaded not guilty.
Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly stated that the child is Butt's first son. The error has been rectified.
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We ofton hear that cricket is by chance.But such state of affairs when almost 6 of your players are planing for bookies truley points towards many of our suspecious defeats.
I think our cricket board must start investigations and award examplary punishments to those involved to set a prcedent for others.
"Son, you were born the day I was convicted"
"Dad, I am so proud of you."
@Yasser Khan: If it makes you feel any better, the two never actually combined into one in my head and I assume I'm not alone. It just made him look worse. Doing what he did was bad but, doing it while he had a kid on the way just makes it all the lower as it's highly unlikely he can use a financial desperation excuse.
i don't like this headline and news, son born minutes after he found guilty, why indirectly curse his child for his father shortcomings, we don't believe in these kind of things.
This may be a reminder from ALLAH (SWT), he should confess and repent to ALLAH (SWT) for his wrong doings.
i just would like to bring the attention to the mistake made in article its not his first son he has a son before and this is his 2nd son.
Happy birthday, kid.
Its his 2nd son...
Guys get your facts right. If this is his first son... Who is Alyaan ?!? (for the clueless ones, thats his first son (and 2nd child).
“It’s a matter of great grief for us that Butt has been found guilty. We hope the Almighty will bring him out of this trouble because these are very difficult times for him and the family,” he added.
Okay,i wish someone would tell him- please don't use Allah's name to support wrong things. If hes been found guilty of something, it's because of his own bloody doing!
Congrats! for the baby, I meant...
Well, no one can do much about the timing! Time is a cruel bandage that heals every wound and sometimes timing can be everything. It was a fair verdict! They got exactly what they deserved.
irony of life!