Salman Butt hopes PCB chairperson Najam Sethi will "do for other players" what he is doing for Mohammad Amir. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has turned down Salman Butt’s request that they push for a reduction of his and Mohammad Asif's ban periods in the same way they are seeking to shorten Mohammad Amir's ban from cricket.
The PCB is currently pushing the International Cricket Council (ICC) to get Amir’s five-year ban reduced and, as per ICC rules, he is already serving the minimum duration for a ban.
Former captain Butt, who is serving a 10-year ban after being found guilty of spot-fixing, hoped PCB chairperson Najam Sethi will "do for other players" what he is doing for Mohammad Amir.
Sethi said the PCB was supporting the young fast bowler after consulting with top lawyers in the UK.
“The PCB took the British QC [Queen’s Counsel] opinion, which advised only in favour of Amir for various reasons. So I am pursing his case,” he told The Express Tribune.
Amir, who was just 18 when he received the ban, received sympathy from various quarters and was the first of the three to plead guilty. He was also noted for his cooperation with the ICC.
Background
On February 5, 2011 an ICC anti-corruption tribunal banned the three players for a minimum of five years for arranging no-balls to order during the Lord’s Test against England in August 2010.
Butt eventually admitted his guilt in June, 2013 and said he wanted to move on from the disgrace.
Butt was banned for 10 years, with five suspended, Asif for seven with two suspended and Amir for five years. All of them could return to the game in August 2015.
COMMENTS (8)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
salman and asif should be banned in cricket for whole life.
Amir should NOT be facilitated by the PCB to come back to the Pakistan team.
What kind of logic is this? What kind of precedent are we setting?
Najam Sethi is saying that Amir's case is being pleaded after consulting lawyers in the UK. This is the most discredited argument I have ever heard.
Why will the lawyers in UK be concerned about Pakistan's national honour?
It is up to Pakistan whether they want such a person back in the team, who had sold the country before? Maybe on several occasions but was at least caught once.
WHY is the PCB trying to bring back Amir?
Amir was not a child when he committed this grave crime and brought dishonour to our country.?............Is this what Najam Sethi's values are?
Shameless Salman has written his own destiny. He should never be allowed to play for Pakistan again. And I must say, shame on Najam Sethi for bringing the standard of morality to such a low in the PCB.
There should be no selection for the trio who cheat the nation and ebarraced cricket lovers. Salman Butt should feel shame instead of demanding same level of treatment.
If he has even a little self-respect he should never think about playing for pak or not even cricket. The gentlemen's game don't need fixers like him.
salman butt was the master mind behind the match fixing or spot fixing or whatever it was! and he shud slap himself for even thinking abt being treated the same way as aamir!
This trio should never be allowed to play under any circumstances.
You should be ashamed of yourself for the stigma you brought to yourself, your family, your team members and Pakistan by your greed and passion for easy money. Now sit back, keep your mouth shut and enjoy the same money which you earned illegally.