Butt to meet ICC ACU officials over his comeback efforts

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt is expected to meet officials of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit soon regarding his efforts to make a comeback to domestic cricket after his ban ends in September.

A well-placed source in the Pakistan Cricket Board told PTI that the ICC anti-corruption unit had contacted Butt after he submitted a written statement to the PCB admitting his involvement and guilt in the spot-fixing scandal in England in 2010. “Indications are that the ICC ACU officials will meet with Butt soon to discuss his statement and future course of action,” the source said.

He said PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan had not raised the issue of giving some relaxation to Butt after his ban ends in September at the recent ICC executive board meeting in Barbados. “But the ICC is now in touch with Butt,” the source added.

After being pressurized by the PCB, Butt finally gave a statement prepared after taking legal advice in which he admitted his guilt in the spot-fixing scandal that saw Butt, Muhammad <g data-gr-id="18">Aamir</g> and Muhammad Asif all banned for a minimum five years in early 2011. While Aamir is now free to resume international cricket once his ban ends in September, the story is different with Butt.  The ICC anti-corruption tribunal in 2011 had imposed a five-year ban on Butt and also a <g data-gr-id="16">five year</g> suspended ban.