PCB Takes U-Turn On Hiring Fixing-Tainted Salman Butt Amid Strong Resistance

Salman Butt had pleaded guilty to a spot-fixing incident during a Test match against England at Lord's in 2010.

Salman Butt. (File Photo)

Source : Getty

While Salman Butt was appointed consultant to the Chief Selector Wahab Riaz by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), after strong resistance from fans, stakeholders and even officials within the cricket board, the fixing-tainted ex-Pakistan captain was removed from the post. The same has been confirmed by Riaz himself in a press conference who said that Butt was being removed with immediate effect.

It is pertinent to note that Butt had represented Pakistan at the elite in level in all the three formats- Tests, ODIs and T20Is and was suspended after he pleaded guilty to a spot-fixing incident during a Test match against England at Lord's in 2010. This was the reason why there were those within the Board that opposed his appointment. A report carried by ESPNCricinfo claims that an employee even threatened to resign if Butt took charge.



The PCB had appointed former players Kamran Akmal, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, and Butt as consultants to the chief selector on Friday. Their appointment had been made with immediate effect and they were to take charge ahead of Pakistan's five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Following protests though, Butt now no longer remains one of the three new appointees.

The 39-year-old donned the Pakistan colours in 33 Test matches, 78 ODIs and 24 T20Is, scoring 1889, 2725 and 595 runs in the three formats respectively. In his first-class career, Butt has closed to 9000 runs while having over 8500 runs in his overall List A career. As far as his numbers in T20 cricket are concerned, he has 2349 runs in 82 matches. When on song, Butt's stroke making was one of the beautiful sights on the cricket field.

Post the spot-fixing scandal and serving his punishment, Butt remains active on YouTube as a cricket pundit and shares his views on Pakistan Cricket, Indian Cricket and cricket around the world.