Salman Butt admits to a role in 2010 spot-fixing case

Tainted former captain confesses to a role in spot-fixing to PCB in a bid to return to cricket.

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has admitted to guilt to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the infamous 2010 spot-fixing scandal, according to reports. Butt was banned along with Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer in the aftermath of the spot-fixing scandal that broke out when Pakistan toured England in 2010.

“Apparently Butt during his meeting made a full confession that he knew and was involved in the spot-fixing that took place in the fourth test against England at Lords and that he had instructed Aamir and Asif to bowl the no-balls,” a source in the board told Press Trust of India.

“Butt also expressed his complete regret and said he was willing to cooperate totally with the ICC,” the source added. In the past, Butt had apologised to the nation for letting them down and regretted his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal. The involvement in fixing saw the trio get minimum five year bans from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and also serve varying jail sentences in the United Kingdom which they served in 2011.

Butt’s full fledged confession came after the ICC informed the PCB that it was not satisfied with the earlier statements made by Butt and Asif and the two needed to admit their proper involvement and guilt in the scandal. “Butt has had a change of heart after he approached the PCB to also plead his case with the ICC anti-corruption unit to review his ban under the revised anti-corruption laws under which M0hammad Aamer has got a relaxation to play domestic cricket before his five year ban ends in September this year,” the source said.

The ICC in their report held Butt as the mastermind of the spot-fixing scandal in which Asif and Aamer bowled deliberate no-balls for large payments from the UK based Pakistani bookmaker Mazhar Majeed who is serving time.

Another source said that after Butt’s renewed stance the PCB would now send his case and request to the ICC for a fresh review so that the former captain can also get a chance to play domestic cricket before his ban ends. In Butt’s case after his five-year ban ends there is also the matter of his suspended ban sentence, of the same period, which can be put aside by the ICC anti-corruption unit freeing him to resume playing cricket.

Mohammad Aamer had returned to playing domestic cricket earlier this month after getting clearance. It looks like, Butt wants to go on the similar path and return to playing cricket.