LAHORE: The family of disgraced former captain Salman Butt was so grief-stricken Friday over his 30-month sentence for corruption in Britain that it postponed his sister's wedding.
The 27-year-old bowler who once delighted millions of Pakistanis with his blistering talent woke up in a British prison with his name tarnished at home and abroad, convicted over cricket's worst fixing scandal in more than 10 years.
His father said his lawyers would file an appeal in London on Friday, but that he was ready to die if his son's guilt is proven.
Unlike the 19-year-old Mohammad Amir, whom the judge said he corrupted, Butt grew up in relative luxury in Lahore, the eldest of three children born to Zulfikar Ali Butt, who runs a farming business.
His father told AFP his son's conviction was a "big tragedy" for the family and that as a result, he had been forced to postpone his 22-year-old dentistry student daughter's impending nuptials.
"She was scheduled to marry in Lahore this month, but it has been postponed because the family is in a state of shock," he told AFP by telephone.
"Her in-laws understand our grief," he added.
Butt's sisters on Thursday alleged that their brother had been made a scapegoat for a wider conspiracy and was innocent.
"If Salman's involvement is proved and evidence is provided that he took money, I tell the nation that my son Salman and I are ready to be hanged publicly," Zulfikar said.
"I have brought up my children never to do such a thing."
Salman was convicted of conspiring to accept corrupt payments and cheat at gambling, and was fined £30,937 ($49,560) in addition to his jail term.
The judge called him the "orchestrator" and that given his "leadership status", he was "more culpable" than the other two bowlers also sentenced.
But Zulfikar described his son as a "practising Muslim who prays five times a day" and said he was in Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage when Salman telephoned to say that he had been charged after the Lord's Test against England in 2010.
"I immediately asked him: Tell me on oath how much are you involved in this scam? He swore that he was not involved.
"My son does not tell lies. He is very kind and helpful. He never fought with anyone. He is a good natured person.
"He has been trapped in a controversy just to malign the game of cricket and Pakistan. Two other bowlers were also involved because they performed well. The assets of our national team have been sent to jail under a conspiracy."
The father said no one from the Pakistan Cricket Board had contacted the family and nor had anyone expressed sympathy.
COMMENTS (25)
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Where there is Smoke...There is FIRE !
Parents, siblings,wives, children will never accept any crime, any fault of their most loved ones , even if they will witness them killing someone before them much less minor crimes .They will always say, Satan did so, and they are innocent.This is natural.But God has His own way of doing justice.The government should immediately ban playing cricket internationally for 5 years, in the meantime there should be an investigation period, and all corrupt officials, and "jaghadrys" should be put on trial.If Pakistan will not play for 5 years no one will die here, but the stigma on the the forehead of Pakistan and cricket board will be erased.Money is not every thing, self respect is.if we will not defend or protect our honor world will assume we have none.Monopoly of particular minds on this department for the sake of elegant cricket should be finished. Finally my comments may hurt a group of people when i will say that this department should have multi culture people instead from a particular section, as we are a multi culture nation, in this way every thing will be in check and a particular might is right mind will learn something.
5-point formula for every Pakistani caught in cheating/corruption/stealing/murder: 1. Protest your innocence. 2. Tell everyone that you are a practising Muslim 3. Point out that you pray 5 times a day 4. Recall that you went on pilgrimmage to Mecca 5. Blame it all on a conspiracy to malign Pakistan, steal Pakistan's assets, spoil Pakistan's ghairat, divide the country...
Praying 5 times a day and going on pilgrimmages only makes one pious and religious. It doesn't make one a good Muslim, let alone a decent/honest human being. Prayer doesn't make one immune from dishonesty/corruption/crime -- look at our and other muslim countries positions on the corruption perceptions index year after year. It is time we put religion back in the home, and focus on education/ethics in public.
"27 years old bowler" AFP is responsible and highly esteemed news agency and its news should be accurate as it spread across the world. Slaman is batsman not a bowler as it is known to every fan of the cricket
What I cannot understand is how come the family set a marriage date so close to the hearings? Surely family was well aware of Salman hearing dates, then the mistake lies with the family Or they are just playing the sentimental card. Whatever the vase maybe, media should also bare some responsibility and not sensationalize family issues, this is becoming absurd.
Zulfikar described his son as a “practising Muslim who prays five times a day”. Mr.Zulfikar, do not play religious card here. You should not mean that all practicing Muslims who pray five times a day cheat the nation and betray the cricket fans like your loving and earning son. It has become a fashion now-a-days to blame everybody but ourselves for our misdeeds.
Even when the allegations first came out, Salman Butt on Geo TV showed his self-entitlement, arrogance, even in court, and has been playing the conspiracy card unashamed way before this.
When asked by the anchorman why it was happening to him, he replied, 'Kya mein Amriki lagta houn?' (Do I look American?). Exploiting Pakistan's conspiracy derangement on TV was quite the move.
His father's claim of him being religious for praying and taking an oath during Hajj is just worsening the hypocrisy.
No conspiracies whatsoever. They are cheats who were caught. They have brought bad name to us all Pakistanis the world over. I understand why his father's so emotional. He's the father after all and would never accept the fact that his son was in.
Let them do their time behind bars over there. Once they're back, put them on trial in the country and make a good example of them for everyone who wants to play for Pakistan (nobody should be forgiven for tarnishing our country's name).
Let them remember:
Spot/match fixing = Bbbbbbbig money: Caught = imprisoned.
@Lollers: I strongly believe as a British Indian muslim Citizen, i have faith in the Pakistani cricket player that he is innocent, and if you dont then so be it, however do NOT judge the parental skills of a father. As for his "Brain cells not working", quite frankly i dont think your cells are 100% either due to the tabloids,you CHOOSE only believe what is portrayed. Please let the family grieve and keep your opinions to yourselves,dont judge him or his family. When he was playing for Pakistan he was the Pride, and now when he needs the support of his country, no one is to be seen.
I really do hope PakistanI PEOPLE ARE put to shame,for not supporting him. I pray that the truth does unfold.
Allegations that he was envolved showed no recording of Salman physically envolved in this fixing. Salman i hope your five daily prayers are heard.. and i shall pray for you too.
Gambling is legally protected in many countries like US, AUS, GB, IND NZ........Why Pakistan is victim. Not protecting these players but why Pakistan for the conspiracy theory. Only because baggers have no choice.
The nation have to rise to protect itself and let world know that we are alive.
Their is no shame on the pakistani media for airing the story. Pround of an independant media and it is with free media that. will help immensely in ridding the country of its evils.
This proves Butt senior is still hibernating .. Stop living like an ostrich. You guys would make really good politicians, once they are back ask PPP or PML(n) and they will gladly give you a ticket for up coming election (Can one take part in election from jail? that is :D).
The one most pertinent point that has been missed out totally is that who were the beneficiary and thus paymasters of this corrupt practice and why have they gone Scott free?
Noone contacted the family from the cricketing authorities becouse the myan was found guilty do they still not smell the coffee. I think that the family of the accused need to go through and seel help and explain the reasons for their guilt. But it is typical to say that it was a conspiracy. How rediculas. I hope he has the cheek to appeal where the verdict would stay the same but the sentance would be increased.
tch tch..still in denial?
So could u plz explain why two of them pleaded guilty if they were really innocent.
It's their personal matter.. Shouldn't be highlighted like this in media.
Salman Butt the '27-year-old bowler'? Uhh...
While we understand your grief sir and despite your utmost faith in your child, the fact is that HE was involved in a conspiracy to malign this country. So please stop using and abusing the "conspiracy against Pakistan" card as it doesnt always work! Yours truly - a humble Pakistani!
Then why not butt opens all the story about whihc are invovled in the scam...if there r big names then go forward butt...you will be hero from zero....open all the names and scams invovled ...why u r disgracing ur family man come onnnn---------
I feel sorry for myself. Everytime I think of it I cant sleep. The shame and the dishonor, its just unbearable
while i understand what Butt and his family might be going through, if there was a real conspiracy, to malign Butt and the game of cricket, then why hasn't anything to this effect been brought before the court? additionally, and rather unfortunately, parents forget that their teachings do not last as long as they would ideally wish them to last.....the peer pressure, the pressure to earn more money, the pressure to be one-up amongst friends and family is sometimes so magnified, that parents' teachings of praying and avoiding wrongdoings are left at home when children step out.....the children they know at home are not the individuals they actually are outside the house......Butt senior may learn this a bit late, and all his children, daughters as well as the son may be suffering right now, but he may have also been a contributory to the pressure of 'earning more, doing more' his son Salman succumbed to.
Shame on Pakistani Media for showing this as Breaking News yesterday!