Pakistan

Salman Butt makes full confession of role in spot-fixing scandal: report

Butt reportedly meets PCB chairman in a bid to make an early return to domestic cricket

Web Desk February 19, 2015

OPTIMISTIC: The ICC on Monday revised its anti-corruption code, paving the way for banned players to feature in domestic matches a few months before their bans expire. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

Pakistan’s tainted former captain Salman Butt has apparently made his first full confession of guilt to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the infamous 2010 spot-fixing scandal, the Press Trust of India reported.

Butt who was banned along with Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir in the aftermath of the spot fixing scandal that broke out when Pakistan was touring England made the confession during a meeting with PCB chief, Shaharyar Khan in Lahore.

“Apparently Butt during his meeting made a full confession that he knew and was involved in the spot fixing that took place in the fourth test against England at Lords and that he had instructed Aamir and Asif to bowl the no-balls,” a source in the board told PTI.

“Butt also expressed his complete regret and said he was willing to cooperate totally with the ICC,” the source said.

Butt had in the past apologised to the nation for letting them down and also regretted his involvement in the spot fixing scandal that saw the trio get minimum five year bans from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and also serve varying jail sentences in the United Kingdom which they served in 2011.

The source said that Butt’s full fledged confession came after the ICC informed the PCB that it was not satisfied with the earlier statements made by Butt and Asif and the two needed to admit their proper involvement and guilt in the scandal.

“Butt has had a change of heart after he approached the PCB to also plead his case with the ICC anti-corruption unit to review his ban under the revised anti-corruption laws under which Muhammad Aamir has got a relaxation to play domestic cricket before his five year ban ends in September this year,” the source said.

The ICC has held Butt as the mastermind of the spot fixing scandal in which Asif and Aamir bowled deliberate no balls for large payments from the UK based Pakistani bookmaker Mazhar Majeed who is serving time.

Another source said that after Butt’s renewed stance the PCB would now send his case and request to the ICC for a fresh review so that the former captain can also get a chance to play domestic cricket before his ban ends.

In Butt’s case after his five-year ban ends there is also the matter of his suspended ban sentence, of the same period, which can be put aside by the ICC anti-corruption unit freeing him to resume playing cricket.

Aamir's return

On January 29, banned fast bowler Aamir had received an early reprieve for a return to domestic cricket following his cooperation with anti-corruption officials.

Amir’s five-year ban was scheduled to expire on September 2 but the 22-year-old could return to domestic cricket with immediate effect, the ICC said in a statement.

“It’s the biggest news of my life,” he had told AFP by phone adding that “It was the most difficult phase of my life but I am sure it’s over now and I am keen to return to international grounds.”

COMMENTS (45)

The OBSERVER | 9 years ago | Reply He should be allowed to play anywhere and any thing as he belongs to Punjab, he cannot do any harm to this country.

Aziz | 9 years ago | Reply As thick-skinned he is my advice to Butt, Asif and Amir would be to join the private club of "NS & AZ XI". Their crooked mentality would be greatly appreciated by these Masters.

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Imtiaz | 9 years ago | Reply Too little too late. What a waste of talent!

Khawer | 9 years ago | Reply This guy shouldn't be allowed to be a towel boy in a grade cricket match, let alone anywhere near the national team. Shady character.

Dr. Asad Sadick, Germany | 9 years ago | Reply Comments published here are really comical. They are either for or against the banned cricketers. Then comes an idiot who goes to the SC against them. I fail only to understand that we can live comfortably with the kinds of AZ, NS, exCJ and their joker and incompetent aides and ministers, but are strong advocates of truth and righteousness when it comes to the cricketers who are really small fish. It is because this whole nation has gone rotten and has no rationale to differentiate what is right and what is wrong. To top it all the Mullahs keep on preaching hatred and sectarian division. In comes IK who is then made a scapegoat for all our woes. We really need to be awakened else it is too late.

ABC | 9 years ago | Reply @SEAsian: Mothers usually do so and rightfully so. It's natural. @topic People should be given a second chance for redemption. Who knows he might become the next big player. Keep a close eye on him until he is trust worthy but give him a chance to clear his name. Who is to say we have never made a single mistake in our life.

Nasir | 9 years ago | Reply Bull! So domestic cricket become more tainted then ever. So, these mother sellers can sell their matches and fixing continues...only in Pakistan and fixers like Shakil Shaikh, Najam Sethi and others can do it!

arshi | 9 years ago | Reply He should get punished the way so no one else should ever dare do to such things in future... he sold pakistan very cheap and he shouldnt be spare what so ever!!!

Shah | 9 years ago | Reply I think all three should ban forever BUT the others like Dhoni and Raina who are involved in IPL saga shall be banned as well. Its similar to Saeed Ajmal, his action was never clean but so was Muralidaran, who kept playing forever with worst possible action. No one shall pick and choose only Paki players, justice shall be done with every one impartially

Malikbhai | 9 years ago | Reply @Alladitta: Another Indian keeps on moaning!! carry on!

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply @Anarchist @MBB Don't hate the playa.......hate the game.

Lord | 9 years ago | Reply If he is allowed to play. Cricket will lose its remaining credibility.

Joker | 9 years ago | Reply @Alladitta: So India is a peaceful neighbor. God take my life. I don't want to live in this world as India is the peaceful country.

Mandeep | 9 years ago | Reply I had so much of respect for this man. I used to admire him a lot specially coz he will always recite something while batting. Just wondering how can you fool yourself!! This game offers enough money to satisfy their needs but not greed. :(

MBB | 9 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: I was really wondering what comment about cricket would you place as day and night on every article your job has been to attack Imran Khan or if you want to day Niazi. Let me tell you one think Mr Adnan Siddique, I live in London and are mostly in Europe, I have seen hundreds of thousands of top educated, rich and sensible Pakistani's here, I have seen top talented business men and professionals here. Let me clear one thing that you might be mistaking, in USA/Canada?UK/Europe 99% of Pakistani's are with Mr Niazi, You like to call him Niazi right? Yes, We love Mr Niazi more than you can even imagine, We can die for him and can do anything for him. No Mr Adnan Siddique, we are not stupid, we are not blind, we are sitting at a place where we can see what you will never be able to see. You proof time to time how ill minded PMLN supporters can be by relating even this to Imran Khan. The one and only honest and genuin leader in Pakistan, Our future prime minister Mr Niazi. Keep doing your job, first i used to get frustrated by your comments, now I just sit back and laugh at the mentality of some people. Goodluck is helping Imran Khan making bigger day by day by making him relevant in every matter just like PMLN has done. Thank you :)

Anarchist | 9 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: I was waiting for your darbari reaction i.e. bringing IK into everything. I am sure next time you will see that it was IK who approved NS's default on billions of rupees and made him sign agreement with Musharaf to run away from Pakistan like a true tiger and live a luxurious life in exile. Keep it up, Siddiqui. You are also a sadiq like Ayaz Sadiq.

Uza Syed | 9 years ago | Reply Now that he is fully exposed and his crime is beyond any doubt whatsoever and he has confessed, he must be made a horrible example out of and chased out of cricket completely and forever, he should not be even allowed to enter any cricket stadium. In addition he deserves some rigoros jail term for bringing the good name Pakistan and dishonor the nation. Thugs like this Butt must banished from public life and disownad by all Pakistan is.

Dilip | 9 years ago | Reply Whosoever represents Pakistan at the highest level of sports must have integrity and humility. The opportunities provided by the country in terms of representing the country and the financial rewards obtained are for the very few. Squandering the opportunities provided and bringing the country to disrepute is a very serious offence. These offences will lurk in the mind of people forever. Will a convicted fraudster ever be employed in the business world?

Basit Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Good ! Now he should publicly apologize for lying for so long (hence fueling conspiracy theories) on the media too.

Tom | 9 years ago | Reply It is only in Pakistan where corrupt people can get chance due to national interest!!

Ahmad | 9 years ago | Reply @Main-Paki-Tho-Nahin Yes, not like Indians hiding IPL spot fixing. Dhoni , Jadeja Co were fully involved but reprieved. Some were caught openly though..

O | 9 years ago | Reply @Saad: Did Amir admit straight away? No he didnt. Why did he admit his role in the fixing scandal? Probably because he was young and could say he was forced into it. He made a rational decision to admit that he bowled no balls intentionally as opposed to actually feeling bad about what he had done. That much is pretty obvious from his interviews over the past 3 years. If Amir has been punished enough then so has Butt. Let them be allowed to play cricket...But all domestic sides should refuse to select them...which will never happen...And if, god forbid, they happen to make it back to the international level, i hope all teams will direct their sledging at them, hopefully resulting in a mental breakdown.

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply What's even more interesting and at the same time suspicious is that Salman Butt during his trial gave the alibi that while the corrupt and shady money transactions were taking place on specific dates and times; he used to be on the phone with none other than ex-Kaptaan Imran Niazi discussing cricket related strategies and the leader of the occult validated Butt's alibi by stating, "Yes, Salman called me up a couple of times from England last year to discuss cricket issues and strategies for the matches. I remember telling him all the time that he must give priority to getting Younis Khan into the team," Khan said. Now the questions are why Butt would call Niazi of all people to discuss "Cricket related strategies" who by 2010 had been out of the game for 18 long years? Why Butt did not deem it necessary to ponder upon these strategies with his own coach Waqar Younis who had a stupendous record of performance in England and his long stints with various county sides there? Why Butt cannot go over the same strategies with his team mate Mohammad Yousuf who himself had won many a laurels due to his awesome batting displays in England? Something fishy here.

Main-Paki-Tho-Nahin | 9 years ago | Reply Another truthful Pakistani. Just another one of 180 million.

tanu | 9 years ago | Reply Hope with this confession, people like Mubasher Luckman will have courage to apologise for all the muck and lies they projected on television when this scandal broke out! come on for once Mubashar speak khara saach now!!!!

Dejavu77 | 9 years ago | Reply All three of them were punished for their crime... but what about the disrespect they brought to the green shirt and the nation? At time when international cricket was not possible locally, England supported Pakistan to arrange series with Australia in England. They assured of similar arrangements in future as well. When this incident took place and these players labelled it as conspiracy, PCB chairman then, Ijaz Butt, retaliated and leveled allegations on England board which resulted in sour ties with ECB. We lost another neutral venue and were restricted to UAE only. If we look at the larger picture, that lone incident caused irreparable losses to Pakistan cricket. Five to ten year ban can never be the substitute for it.

Mughal | 9 years ago | Reply I think we need to see it with two angles. he comes from a nation of corrupt elite (mostly of course). Why should we get emotional about it. Our politicians are like this and we elect them again and again. Dhoni amongst all suspicion is still playing. Personally, as a cricket lover, i believe he shall not be pardoned.

rukhsar | 9 years ago | Reply PCB, please pardon him.

Pity | 9 years ago | Reply He does not have genuine remorse. He just wants to come back to earn more money.

Sham | 9 years ago | Reply I think the message from the entire nation is quite clear. WE DO NOT WANT HIM BACK IN THE PAKISTAN TEAM. His sisters use to come on TV saying their brother is innocent and its a conspiracy. What a shame !

pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply Too little too late. Between he would claim himself innocent again. If he has the guts, he should come out openly and accept his mistakes. Look like he wanted to get some money before his cricketing days are over. What is the guarantee he won't do it again?

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply @Alladitta: Whereas Indians have proven time and again that they are the most honest and most non interfering!!!

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply Why stop there! Why not demand a back dated contract.

Woz Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply I hope the British authorities recover the full legal costs incurred from his trial.

Liberal | 9 years ago | Reply @Alladitta: Thank you Bro for proving that you are an Indian.

Alladitta | 9 years ago | Reply @amer - I think Pakistanis image is being dragged through sewers due to its policy of encouraging and harbouring terrorists who attack peaceful neighbours.@Amer:

adnan | 9 years ago | Reply where r all those people including media who said that it was conspiracy by india to damage Pakistan cricket

Ahmad | 9 years ago | Reply ICC has given them punishment for their crimes - its time for PCB and Pakistan to ban all three for life!!! Its for their continuous lying for such along time. While most of us were blaming the incidence on international conspiracies they were hiding behind their lie. Playing for Pakistan is a privilege and very few have that and turning it into disgrace is a big offence..

Zeeshan Kiyani | 9 years ago | Reply Her sister too was very vocal in his support and believed him as innocent.

Anoni | 9 years ago | Reply Your services are Not needed.. sorry

Jawad U Rahman | 9 years ago | Reply To admit it now after taking the whole nation through a web of conspiracy theories for fuve years! I don't think admitting your guilt now means anything.

Saad | 9 years ago | Reply Why should he be given a chance? Aamir has been given a chance cause he straightaway admitted what he did was wrong and served a severe punishment for that, also Aamir was pushed by Butt. Butt is the mastermind, should never be allowed to play and pollute the team again. |He still doesn't feel remorse, he is only doing this to be allowed to play. He should be jailed again now after his full confession. That would serve him right.

Danish Zaidi | 9 years ago | Reply This comes in after he had exhausted all options. This man is corrupt to the core and under no circumstance should be allowed back even for club matches.

Amer | 9 years ago | Reply I only feel sorry for his family, his dad was ready to commit suicide if he was found guilty ! Imagine the kind of damage this one person has done to the Pakistan cricket team's image let alone the image of Pakistan. If he ever starts playing cricket again.. that would be the worst outcome for Pakistan from this saga !

SEAsian | 9 years ago | Reply The only person who believed he was innocent was his mother.

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