LONDON: Former Test captain Salman Butt has been released early from a British prison after serving less than a quarter of his sentence for spot fixing, his lawyers said Thursday.
The 27-year-old was jailed for 30 months last November on charges of accepting corrupt payments during the Lord's Test against England in August 2010.
He was freed on Thursday, according to his London legal company, 25 Bedford Row.
Butt's father Zulfiqar said on Wednesday that he expected his son to be home within three or four days.
Butt, teammates Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, and agent Mazhar Majeed were accused of arranging deliberate no-balls in return for money.
Amir was released in February after serving half his six-month sentence while Asif, jailed for 12 months, was freed in May.
The three players were banned for at least five years by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has ordered the Pakistan Cricket Board to rehabilitate the former stars.
The trio has a right to appeal the ICC ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland.
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@Hameed
I was about to start condemning salman in every possible way and tone but then i read ur comment. Its true, he has paid for his errors and its absolutely true how you said he is just a human. we all make mistakes. not saying that he should be allowed back in the team or be given "due respect", believe me i am not. but i also feel that people should forget him now, let him live his life and stop cursing him out. we have all made mistakes in our lives, some stupid and others very serious.
As much as i detest Salman Butt, lets not forget he has paid for his errors and served jail time. Lets not judge people. We all are human. Forgiveness can also work wonders at times rather than hatred.
He is the best candidate for the PM position, he has spent time in jail and has taken alot of sacrifices from the nation. He should be on the ballot tommorow.
Our hero is returning! Please turn up in good numbers at the airport to receive him. He has made Pakistan proud by vaulting the country's name on the front pages of every newspaper for nearly 2 weeks !! As the saying goes, publicity is publicity, there is no such thing as bad publicity. Mr.Butt you'll always be my hero. Will you be joining politics by any chance?
I think he is an apt choice for PM post of our country. Will fit to a T credential wise.
He MUST be immediately arrested upon his arrival in Pakistan as he needs to be punished here for he disgraced our country as a captain. Give him the third rated prison in this scorching summer after his royal confinment in UK and teach him a lesson so that no one tries to sell their mother (Pakistan) ever again!
Mr Butt, please leave Britain by the next flight. We do not want to give you asylum nor want to spend any more money for your up keep in Britain.