Shahid Afridi blocked my comeback in Pakistan team, claims Salman Butt

Salman Butt and his teammates, Mohammad Asif and M0hammad Aamir were caught in the spot-fixing scandal on the tour of England in August 2010.

Tainted former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt has made a huge revelation about his career and former teammate Shahid Afridi. He claimed that Afridi blocked his return to the national squad for the 2016 World T20, despite him serving the five-year ban following the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.

Butt stated that after the completion of his ban in 2015, he was close to being selected for the World T20 in India. However, Afridi restricted his selection.

“I was called to the NCA by head coach Waqar Younis and batting coach, Grant Flower and they took me to the nets and checked my fitness,” Butt said a Pakistani news channel on Tuesday night.

“Waqar bhai asked me if I was mentally ready to play for Pakistan again and I said yes very much,” he added.

The 34-year-old said everything was cleared for his comeback to the Pakistan team before Afridi, who was the captain then, stepped in and blocked his return.

“I don't know what prompted him to do this but no, I didn't go to him or speak about it. I didn't feel it was right. But what I know is that Waqar and Flower told me I was playing the World Cup and then Afridi resisted," Butt claimed.

Pakistan fared poorly in the World T20 as a result of which both Afridi and Waqar were forced to resign.

Butt said he didn't think individual players should be allowed to decide the fate of players returning from bans. He stressed on the fact that he was also close to selection in the Pakistan team in early 2017 when the spot-fixing scandal broke out in the Pakistan Super League.

“I don't know what more I have to do to be considered for selection again. I have completed my rehabilitation and I have scored runs.  But I think it is great injustice if no one is clear with us and tells us no matter what we do we are not going to be picked for Pakistan again.  I don't see the use of working so hard and doing so much if we are left to remain in uncertainty,” he added.

Butt and his teammates, Mohammad Asif and M0hammad Aamir were caught in the spot-fixing scandal on the tour of England in August 2010.

Butt was named as Pakistan captain after Afridi had stepped down as Test captain following a defeat in the first Test at Lords.