LAHORE: Returning to Pakistan after spending close to nine months in prison in Britain, former Pakistan national cricket team captain Salman Butt maintained that he was innocent of spot-fixing, clarifying that he had served a sentence for “failure to report” advances from a bookie.
“I have never entertained any offer, nothing ever practically happened in a match that was linked to any offer. Of spot-fixing or any fixing, I never asked anyone to do anything or bowl any no-balls, I am not associated with it.”
Speaking to media men upon his arrival at the Allama Iqbal airport in Lahore early Friday morning, Butt admitted he had failed to report the advances to due authorities, and for this he had served a commuted sentence.
“I apologised to the ICC for this, I did not report the events [advances] between these two to three months because I knew the person,” explained Butt, adding that he hoped the former sporting agent, Mazhar Majeed would realise the wrongdoing and correct his ways.
“To the people of Pakistan, all the cricketers, those who support us and make us stars, I apologise - but for failure to report,” Butt asserted.
Pressed for answers by the media which had waited to talk to Butt for more than an hour after his flight had landed, said that he would sit with his legal team and hold a press conference to explain everything.
Asked what he wanted to do next, the former left-handed batsman said that he wanted to make a comeback as a “good person, a good pakistani, and as a good cricketer.”
In response to a question he said he felt very good to have returned home. “No place like Pakistan.”
Butt, who was implicated in spot-fixing for the third test match between Pakistan and England, had been convicted by an ICC tribunal in February 2011 on charges of failing to report an advance and for ordering two of his bowlers, playing under his command, to bowl no-balls at specific times during the match. He was banned from the sport of cricket for 10 years, the last five of which were suspended, provided he did not commit further offences and participate in a Pakistan Cricket Board anti-corruption programme.
He, and fellow players Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were convicted by the Southwark court for conspiracy to cheat at gambling and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments in November 2011. Butt was sentenced to 30 months for this offence.
COMMENTS (47)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Man! He still have the nerve to say this. Seriously Butt! you have a bright future in politics.
Everyone is innocent in Pakistan - that is the reason of our great progress so far. No one is responsible for any thing. Do what ever you want. If you are related with the ruling party - you have the born immunity. No one can touch you for any reason. Criminals are made ministers and prime ministers. those who are punished are pardoned by president because he has all the power and immunity. shame on everyone as a nation. eat. loot others if you do not have some thing. sleep on. do not wake up. every thing is all right.
u r rite @Pakistani Hindu:
Human beings are fallible and to forgive is divine.
He should be restored soonest possible.
Its all because of media giving Butt unnecessary attention I suggest he should be ignored and best left alone.He is finished by all means., NO Matter what he says he brought disgrace to the country like all other Pakistani who are worshiped and made heroes by this poor nation.
I strongly suggest strong character building and extensive coaching should be provided to all players before they are exposed to the the world of fame and money. A minimum qualification criteria ( not true for Butt) should be introduced for cricketers.
When in the UK he pleaded guilty and when in Pakistan he pleads innocent. Only Pakistanis can do this and funny thing is that he will find many here who will believe in his lies.
This is pretty naive on Salman's part. He should admit his mistake and move on. Atleast by accepting his mistake, he can gain some sympathy (if any) from his countrymen. If he continues in this denial mode, his chances of making a comeback to the Pakistani team look very slim. Hope sense prevails. Good luck to him.
not a single comment in his favour and his comparison with PPP! vow our nation at least youth showing that they become realistic. Good for Pakistan's future
From politicians to actors to sportsman ... no one has little morality to accept the wrong deed and hence little margins for the improvement. Let us all defame them in our eyes. God bless this country.
@Mirza: Why should UK Taxpayers bear the burden of keeping these lot in our prison, where life is far better than what average Pakistani goes thru daily in trying to survive ! These lot tried to play with our system and came unstuck, and yet they claim their innocence!! Its tragic as to their mentality and denials of their actions ! As it is we have a very large population of Pakistani origin people in UK prisons already !
we all are wrong- doers only those caught are guilty
Salman Butt you disgraced your country,your family ,yourself and above all game of cricket at Lords by forcing and conspiring to bowl no balls.You admitted the guilt in the UK court which has high reputation globally.Forget about your comeback to cricket world.Join a political party and invest to become a parliamentarian or something like that. You will get away with everything.Rush election is coming.
Mr salman go the Bollywood as you fellow man shoaib akhtar and call it a day for cricket!
Innocent even after proven guilty ; )
he should be banned for life by pakistan cricket board...
You guys have no heart. You are the ones who have become cynical and stone cold due to your experiences in Pakistan.
He should have proved his 'innocence' to the judge who convicted him rather than claiming to be innocent to journalists.
Idiot should have apologised outright instead.
Mr. Salman, you sold this countries honour to earn money. You deserve to be tried at home and sent to a local prison.
He disgraced Pakistan, should never be allowed to play for the country
FBR should wake up and tax all his ill gotten money
least AMIR admitted guilt so i respect him for that but this low life person BUTT has no shame
After such great accomplishments, his next logical step should be to join another venerable institution, the PPP.
PPP can chose him the next PM :)
@Hasan: My apologies, my earlier comment was incorrect. It should have read: Butt may declare his innocence in relation to spot fixing, BUT, there is no doubt in him being found guilty of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.
His continued lying suggests only one thing. He hasn't changed a bit. Only hardened.
Have some guts to acknowledge your mistakes and go on with your life like a man. Don't lie through your teeth. It makes you look even more guilty.
He's right. I saw a flying spaghetti monster this morning!
Mr Butt please dont try to fool the nation (at least not all of us ) u admitted in front of judge in British court and u said " IM GUILTY " that's why they gave you very little prison sentence because you fully admitted ur wrong doing.BUT MR BUTT you have no shame ur saying all this as soon as you touch down in Pakistan.GOD save cricket GOD save Pakistan
Still in denial, wow. He seems like a good candidate for replacing Gilani.
Just wondering if we have anyone in Pakistan who has moral courage to admit his guilt and apologise. My request to media is to please find someone who can own up the mistakes and that way atleast it will give a little bit of better impression to the general public in Pakistan and all over the world.
I am innocent, you are innocent,everybody is innocent, as he said " No Place like Pakistan".
He should not get any media attention and should be left to rot. He and people like him have done nothing but disgrace our nation, it was wrong of the UK system to release him before he completed the 30 months sentense. We spit on you and your likes Mr. Butt. You are nothing more than a low life scum of the earth.
Shame on you Mr. Salman Butt. Please understand you have lost the respect of Pakistans cricket fans. Please don't play around.
Does this news and its character really deserve to be the headline of Express tribune?
Yeah, Pakistanis never learn. Still not apologetic. Sad!
Pakistan is full of innocent ppl like Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, Ex PM Gillani, Veena Malik, Mathira etc etc
SC and the chief justice should take a suo moto over this matter. :) Salman butt should swear on the holy Quran of his innocence and join the media circus.
No shame and no remorse, he should not have been released this soon. They should have him right a statement of his guilt before giving even a day early release. Cash in him room while he was travelling from city to city and taped for his crimes, yet denial is what he has for the nation. Is Amir is lying after admitting his guilt? Where isi suo motu court now? HH brought shame to Pakistan but this man did not?
call it a day Salman... you have had it you were 1 of 28 from 160 millions...it's sad how cheaply you screwed up yourself.
Pl. do us a favour, stay at home.
He should have been send straight to jail. What he did to Pakistan is unforgivable.
His nose continues to grow
ok
right! please let's deport him from pakistan as well
No, he is not innocent, he pleaded guilty to the charges.