Salman Butt wants to return as soon as possible

Former captain raring to go as five-year ban ends

KARACHI: Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt, who has been allowed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to return to competitive cricket along with Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif from September 2, has said that he wants to return to playing ways as soon as possible.

Butt was given a 10-year sentence with five years suspended, while Asif received a seven-year sentence with two years suspended.

Amir was given the minimum punishment of five years and was allowed to appear in domestic cricket earlier this year with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) looking to fast-track him into the Pakistan team ahead of important series against England, India and the World T20 in 2016.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, he welcomed the ICC’s decision to let him return to competitive cricket after a five-year ban.

“I’m thankful to the authorities for giving me a second chance in my career,” said Butt. “I’ve been keeping myself fit through regular net practices and training, hoping that I would get this chance to return to competitive cricket. There are always bad days and good days and I’m hoping that the good days are now ahead of me.”

Butt was reportedly included in Lahore’s team for the upcoming domestic T20 tournament but then confusion emerged with reports suggesting that he was stopped by the PCB from participating in the domestic competition.

Butt clarified that he still has to deliver a lecture in order to complete his rehabilitation and will do so whenever the PCB ask him. “I’ve given my availability to the PCB regarding the delivery of the lecture to youngsters and whenever they will call me, I’ll go,” said Butt. “Youngsters should learn from our mistakes and I pray that no one goes through what I have been through.”

Butt was found guilty of involvement in spot-fixing in the August Lord’s 2010 Test against England, along with Asif and Amir. A British newspaper, News of the World, broke the story and the aforementioned players were later found to have taken money from a bookmaker, Mazhar Majeed, to bowl no-balls.

The 30-year-old further stated that he was looking to earn back his place in the Pakistan team through strong performances in domestic cricket but admitted that it would not be an easy thing as the competition for places is really tough.

Meanwhile, a senior PCB official confirmed that Butt has fulfilled the requirements of ICC but hasn’t fulfilled all the commitments required of him as per the PCB’s rehabilitation process. “There are certain commitments which Butt would need to fulfil before getting the green light from the PCB. But these are just minor things. It’s basically about showing up at different events when PCB calls him to deliver lectures,” said the official.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2015.

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