Salman Butt. PHOTO: REUTERS
After vehemently denying his involvement, disgraced Pakistan cricketer and former captain Salman Butt admitted to and apologised for his role in the spot-fixing scandal that brought much shame to the country. Two years after the International Cricket Council (ICC) found him, as well as fast-bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir guilty of taking money in exchange for deliberately contriving no-balls during the fourth Test against England, during the 2010 tour of the country, Butt was “apologetic” for the pain he caused to fans and the country. He was banned from all cricketing activity for at least five years and also put behind bars in the UK.
Butt’s admission of guilt comes after he has done time in jail, appealed to the ICC, as well as to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, only for his appeals to be dismissed each time. Only last year, after being released from jail and returning to the country, he insisted that he was innocent. However, delving deeper into his statement, given on June 28, we clearly get the impression that after using up all the cards in the deck, the former opener is now looking to take the opportunity of a new chairman at the helm, namely Najam Sethi, and find a way that would enable him to make his comeback. Mr Sethi recently stated that he would make a plea to the ICC to reduce the duration of Amir’s ban. This statement seems to have alerted Butt and he appears to now look to earn a similar favour through a manipulative, apologetic press conference.
Is this what our country has been reduced to? Do the supporters of the national team want to give a chance to a corrupt player, who not only committed corruption himself but also led one of the brightest stars in Pakistan cricket on the same dreaded path? His manipulation aside, Butt, the “orchestrator” of the spot-fixing saga, needs to spend time off the field and made to regret his actions — actions that let down the fans and the country after raising their hopes when he was made captain.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (28)
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His guilt should now make him alter his character rather than accepting the guilt and seeking apologies from the nation. He should complete his punishment period any way. He should then be allowed to compete and gain a position in Pakistan team, if he can.
Too little too late!! This criminal should never be allowed to set foot on a cricket ground let alone play for Pakistan again any day in the future. He has lied all along and now is coming out with the admissions just because ICC told them to do it for a chance to play again etc. Pakistan is a very very unfortunate country to have had a captain like Salman Butt and we would be the ultimate losers if he ever plays again on a cricket pitch.
Ban him for life!!!!
I think Salman Butt's not guilty because he's wearing a nice scarf and so forth.
He should be forgiven...such a talent should not be wasted
too late mr.! it shows his meanness and lust for fame and money. He should be banned forever as he is the main culprit behind the spot fixing scandal. He should be ashamed of himself. He should be banned from all types of cricket so that no one dares to defame our country in the future.
All these people who are talking about these cricketers being characterless think of themselves as supreme moral authority..devoid of greed.. i bet their morals would have failed them if they were offered 12000 pounds for a single no-ball..come on man..nobody is sinless over here...everybody deserves a chance. If you are not willing to forgive..dont ever expect forgiveness for your mistakes either.
Too late bro, too late
Oh please ban him and the other two for life. They brought shame to our motherland. We got load of talented youth waiting to be picked.
Pakistan most probably is the only country in the world where cheats and corrupt are always given a second/third/fourth time chances to survive and bring bad name for the country. This cheat salman butt, asif will all come back to ruin and destroy the image of the country. No one bothers CHEATS RUN SPREE
Well at least he admitted. The tax evading corrupt politicians haven't even admitted. I would trust butt over these corrupt politicians.
I still remember that dark and gloomy evening in London when all the hawkers and news stand were carrying posters "Cricket cheats found gulty". I was hiding my face as people were discussing this cricket corruption in tube, offices, bus stations and everywhere else. It was a difficult day for every Pakistani to be in London. I hate these characters and Butt the most as he was the captain. He is such a dark character that he had this courage to keep visiting on tv channels and keep lying and lying. Cant support any mercy for him.
ban him for life, don't allow these culprits play again
We need an opener in the team. But not Salman Butt. Never him
@Tired Off:
Kindly spare his father. A father would always have a positve view of his childeren and my and your father are also no exception.
Wholeheartedly agree with the author. These people should not be allowed to make a comeback!
At least he has accepted his mistake and sought apology. We have given so many chances to the corrupt people in Pakistan, why not him. We will continue to produce such menace unless we totally abolish corruption from the blood of our nation.
I was actually looking for a prolonged statement from butt, in which he adds his retirement as well. Would have shown that he really regrets what he has done. Hope he never gets in the cricket field again.
He must never be given a second chance!
The way he ruined Pakistan cricket team and world class bowlers like Amir, he deserves a befitting punishment. He has reduced Pakistan to what Pakistan team has become today!
I still remembers how Salman Butt was making claims of the money he had at the time of raid, this is the money for my sister's marriage (and I am taking this with me on every tour LOL) Close this chapter, and do not consider them for any set up in PCB.
British Courts declared him a criminal and sent him and his co-conspirators to jail. They were right and everyone who supported Butt were wrong. Now Butt should be charged with lying and bringing Pakistan into disrepute. Is no one going to pay a price for this? Are we that shameless and indecent as a people and nation??
Butt's time as cricketer is over. I wouldn't buy chips from him either!
And his father was using the pretext of pilgrimage to make his son look innocent.
After losing at every legal avenue and lying for years this hardened criminal has no other option but to go for mercy appeal. Trying apology and truth after everything else failed is no remorse or apology. He should be banned for full 10 years as we cannot trust him again.
Listen his father's exploitation at 2:16 min !!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UVqz1HVXJ0
Should be banned for life...character less cricketer
I wonder where the ambassador to UK, who vehemently defended these cricketers as soon as the scandal broke out, will hide his head now.
I sincerely hope that PCB has more brains than to even consider any options in relation to these convicts and cheats ! It would be disastrous for what little standing that PCB actually has within the ICC, to even consider any form of appeal ! They have already made that mistake way back in relation to these players ! They certainly made fools of themselves once, but to do it twice would be ridiculous ! Pls close this sad chapter and forget these players, as they have not only brought shame and disrepute to the Game but also had audacity to deny the charges and go thru the judicial process in Crown Court of UK, at UK Taxpayer's expense too !