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One reformed match fixer appears to be enough for some of the former stars of Australian cricket, who have urged Pakistan to resist the temptation to recall former captain Salman Butt.
Michael Hussey and Ryan Harris say any selection of Butt would over-stepping the mark as the drums start to beat for the 32-year-old to find his way back to top-tier cricket.
Butt was convicted of match-fixing and finished his five-year ban in September last year. Since then he has savaged bowlers in Pakistani domestic cricket, most recently returning a pair of centuries in this week's Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final.
He ended with a tournament aggregate of 741 runs, including four centuries. They are the kind of numbers that would have Pakistan selectors salivating given their surrender against Australia in the first innings of the opening Test at the Gabba.
But Harris and Hussey are only lukewarm on the inclusion of fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who has bowled well in a beaten side in Brisbane. Amir was just 17 when he was convicted alongside Butt and Mohammad Asif for bowling deliberate no-balls on a tour of England.
When it came to Butt, who was captain at the time, both ruled a line through the idea, no matter how desperate Mickey Arthur is to bolster his batting stocks.
"I'm not a big fan of it," Harris told Fox Sports.
"I know Mohammad Amir is playing here ... I'm 50-50 on that. I obviously don't think he should be here, but he was 17 years old ... whether that was an excuse I'm still trying to work that out myself.
"But Salman Butt, the captain who told his players to go out and cheat, there's no room for that in the game. I'm not sure how the opposition players would take playing against him for one, but definitely not.
"I know he's done the crime, done the time. I still think that was a pretty lenient time, five years."
Hussey backed the hardline stance, saying Butt had no place back in the Test arena.
"It doesn't sit well with me," Hussey said.
"Some would argue he has done his time and been allowed back in, much like Mohammad Amir.
"But you've got to remember Amir was a 17-year-old kid being directed by Salman Butt to do the wrong thing. I have a bit more sympathy for Amir.
"But Salman Butt, it doesn't sit well to have him back in international cricket."
Butt's last Test was in August 2010 against England at Lords. He played 33 Tests before his suspension, averaging 30.46, with three centuries and 10 half-centuries.
"I hope the bad days are over," Butt said in Pakistan after the Trophy final. "I have gone through difficult times, but my wife, my family and friends supported me.
"I have knocked the door (of international cricket) very hard and hope this will pave my way for return to (the) Pakistan team. I have the capacity, but that is something the selectors have to tell and decide."
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket...-match-fixer-salman-butt-20161217-gtda3i.html
Michael Hussey and Ryan Harris say any selection of Butt would over-stepping the mark as the drums start to beat for the 32-year-old to find his way back to top-tier cricket.
Butt was convicted of match-fixing and finished his five-year ban in September last year. Since then he has savaged bowlers in Pakistani domestic cricket, most recently returning a pair of centuries in this week's Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final.
He ended with a tournament aggregate of 741 runs, including four centuries. They are the kind of numbers that would have Pakistan selectors salivating given their surrender against Australia in the first innings of the opening Test at the Gabba.
But Harris and Hussey are only lukewarm on the inclusion of fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who has bowled well in a beaten side in Brisbane. Amir was just 17 when he was convicted alongside Butt and Mohammad Asif for bowling deliberate no-balls on a tour of England.
When it came to Butt, who was captain at the time, both ruled a line through the idea, no matter how desperate Mickey Arthur is to bolster his batting stocks.
"I'm not a big fan of it," Harris told Fox Sports.
"I know Mohammad Amir is playing here ... I'm 50-50 on that. I obviously don't think he should be here, but he was 17 years old ... whether that was an excuse I'm still trying to work that out myself.
"But Salman Butt, the captain who told his players to go out and cheat, there's no room for that in the game. I'm not sure how the opposition players would take playing against him for one, but definitely not.
"I know he's done the crime, done the time. I still think that was a pretty lenient time, five years."
Hussey backed the hardline stance, saying Butt had no place back in the Test arena.
"It doesn't sit well with me," Hussey said.
"Some would argue he has done his time and been allowed back in, much like Mohammad Amir.
"But you've got to remember Amir was a 17-year-old kid being directed by Salman Butt to do the wrong thing. I have a bit more sympathy for Amir.
"But Salman Butt, it doesn't sit well to have him back in international cricket."
Butt's last Test was in August 2010 against England at Lords. He played 33 Tests before his suspension, averaging 30.46, with three centuries and 10 half-centuries.
"I hope the bad days are over," Butt said in Pakistan after the Trophy final. "I have gone through difficult times, but my wife, my family and friends supported me.
"I have knocked the door (of international cricket) very hard and hope this will pave my way for return to (the) Pakistan team. I have the capacity, but that is something the selectors have to tell and decide."
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket...-match-fixer-salman-butt-20161217-gtda3i.html
