Sports

Salman Butt barred from practising at NCA

In another setback to Salman Butt, the PCB has barred him from practising at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

Saleem Khaliq October 19, 2010

KARACHI: In another setback to Salman Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has barred the former Test captain from practising at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore after reports of objection from the International Cricket Council (ICC) emerged.

Salman, who is provisionally suspended by the ICC for the alleged role in the spot-fixing saga that rocked Pakistan cricket on its tour of England in the summer, has been training at the academy as he eyed the series against South Africa in the UAE as his comeback.

The opener, one of three suspended Pakistan players along with fast-bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, is due to have a hearing in his case in Doha on October 30 and 31.

The PCB confirmed the news, adding that the other two suspended players were also barred from training at any ground until their case has been decided. Meanwhile, reports also suggest that the PCB has been under pressure to keep the accused players away from the other team members.

Salman has remained optimistic ahead of the hearing and had said that he was training hard for the upcoming series against South Africa as the Tests start next month. But the PCB, under pressure by the ICC according to reports, has instructed the batsman to stop training immediately as the board attempted to distant him from the squad, which is also practising there.

Salman was appointed Test captain after Shahid Afridi retired from the format following the loss against Australia. The left-hander immediately tasted success with a victory against Australia - the first win in 15 years against them - before losing two matches in a row to hosts England. However, a win in the third Test put Pakistan on track to level the series as the teams headed to Lord’s for the decider.

It was there when a British tabloid the News of the World alleged that three Pakistan players were involved in spot-fixing and while Amir and Asif bowled deliberate no-balls, Salman was also involved as the captain. The ICC reacted by suspending the trio as it investigated the allegations and while the Scotland Yard has forwarded the case to the Crown Prosecution Service in England, the three players appealed against the suspension.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (5)

sajid | 13 years ago | Reply whats this this will really be injustice with salman butt if he wants to practice hard then i think its good for pakistan team so that whenever team want him then he will be in a good touch

A Suhail | 13 years ago | Reply According to the ICC code of conduct any player who is accused of a misconduct will be ineligible to play in any matches conducted by ICC and that player should also be barred from having any access to other cricketers until he is cleared of the accusations. I have translated the jargon to make it easy to understand. One can go to their website and read the official version. Since he is not allowed to have any contact with the players that means he can not use the facilities where other players might be present. Laws are made for a reason and since we are part of ICC we must adhere to the laws ICC has established.