'Salman went up to Afridi and apologised with tears in his eyes'
An eye witness' account on the meeting between the two players at NCA
Pakistan team is participating in a national camp before the Zimbabwe series. PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan's disgraced batsman Salman Butt was sighted by an onlooker apologising to the T20 captain Shahid Afridi at National Cricket Academy, Lahore.
Pakistan team is participating in a national camp before the Zimbabwe series which will start from September 27.
"Butt, who is coming to the NCA to train, went up to Afridi in the presence of some other players and with tears in his eyes apologised to him," one witness said, as quoted by NDTV.
"Butt told Afridi he was sorry for what had happened in England and that he should have listened to his (Afridi's) advice. He asked the Pakistan T20I captain to forgive him for his role in the spot-fixing scandal. Afridi kept quiet and then, obviously embarrassed by the situation, mumbled to Butt that he should focus on his cricket."
Butt along with bowlers Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir were part of the spot-fixing scandal during the 2010 Lord’s Test against England. The trio was later banned by International Cricket Council for five years and also served time in a United Kingdom jail.
The five-year ban ended on September 1 and the players were allowed to play after taking permission from the respective board.
The cricket fraternity is divided on whether the players should be allowed to make a comeback in the team or not with some suggesting that it would be unfair to the young crickters and will set a bad example, while some believe that they deserve a second chance at redemption.
A source close to the players quoted by the Press Trust of India said some of the national team players were uncomfortable to see Butt, Asif and Aamir at the NCA training alongside the players and had conveyed this to their team management.
Pakistan team is participating in a national camp before the Zimbabwe series which will start from September 27.
"Butt, who is coming to the NCA to train, went up to Afridi in the presence of some other players and with tears in his eyes apologised to him," one witness said, as quoted by NDTV.
"Butt told Afridi he was sorry for what had happened in England and that he should have listened to his (Afridi's) advice. He asked the Pakistan T20I captain to forgive him for his role in the spot-fixing scandal. Afridi kept quiet and then, obviously embarrassed by the situation, mumbled to Butt that he should focus on his cricket."
Butt along with bowlers Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir were part of the spot-fixing scandal during the 2010 Lord’s Test against England. The trio was later banned by International Cricket Council for five years and also served time in a United Kingdom jail.
The five-year ban ended on September 1 and the players were allowed to play after taking permission from the respective board.
The cricket fraternity is divided on whether the players should be allowed to make a comeback in the team or not with some suggesting that it would be unfair to the young crickters and will set a bad example, while some believe that they deserve a second chance at redemption.
A source close to the players quoted by the Press Trust of India said some of the national team players were uncomfortable to see Butt, Asif and Aamir at the NCA training alongside the players and had conveyed this to their team management.