Salman Butt accuses Shahid Afridi of denying him a comeback in the Pakistan side

[MenInG]

Disgraced former captain Salman Butt has claimed that Shahid Afridi blocked his return to the Pakistan team for the 2016 World T20 despite him serving the five-year ban following the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.

Butt said he was close to being selected for the World T20 in India after he had resumed playing domestic cricket following the completion of his ban in 2015 but Afridi resisted 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 on the Gsports show on GTV 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.”

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.

The Test opener said 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.”

Butt and his teammates, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad 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 Lord’s.

First Published: Jan 02, 2019 11:17 IST

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...salman-butt/story-07IglD85VALScZajerP3XJ.html

 

[LordEddardStark]

My respect for Shahid Afridi has never been higher.

 

[Hitman]

If true, Afridi needs to be applauded. He is the rotten apple that spoiled Amir.

 

[Hasan123]

In the end if true it was the right decision. From this point onwards, we shouldn't select any fixers to play for Pakistan.

 

[Usman Chadda]

It's a well-documented fact that Afridi and Butt did not get along. Not sure why Butt is so 'shocked' or 'hurt' at being omitted by a guy who blew the whistle on the spot-fixing activities in 2010.

 

[Oligochaetes]

Well Done Afridi! You did the right thing

 

[BreadPakoda]

His comeback into the T20 side would have been a poor decision even from a purely cricket point of view.

 

[trickyone]

But is it gonna be same for Sharjeel khan as well?

 

[Slog]

For pure cricketing reasons along Salman Butt has no argument for being in the T20 side

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Shahid Afridi had no business captaining Pakistan's team in World T20 - neither did Waqar had any business coaching.

Salman Butt had not business being part of the team on cricketing merit alone.

Shafqat Amanat Ali had no business singing the national anthem.

All in all, there was a lot of 'no business' going on at that time.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Shahid Afridi had no business captaining Pakistan's team in World T20 - neither did Waqar had any business coaching.

Salman Butt had not business being part of the team on cricketing merit alone.

Shafqat Amanat Ali had no business singing the national anthem.

All in all, there was a lot of 'no business' going on at that time.

*have

 

[MenInG]

A strong domestic structure is key to India‘s Test success and Pakistan cannot expect a similar performance from their players when most tend to avoid the four-day cricket in the country, said former Test captain Salman Butt.

Last month Pakistan lost the three-Test series against New Zealand 1-2 and also suffered a six-wicket defeat against South Africa in the first Test at Centurion last week. India, on the other hand, defeated Australia by 137 runs in the third Test at Melbourne to take an unassailable 2-1 lead and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“Look, when India won the recent Test against Australia, Virat Kohli credited India’s domestic cricket for the success in bowling and batting,” said Butt, who played 33 Tests and 78 ODIs in his international cricket career. “India is doing well because their players are only allowed to play in the IPL T20 cricket and have to play Ranji Trophy unlike us where most players tend to avoid four-day domestic cricket.

“Most of them (Pakistani players) have not even played 50 first class games. Not many of them have spent time in domestic four-day cricket. Worse they have played all their cricket mostly in UAE conditions.”

Pakistan will take on South Africa in the second Test beginning Thursday at Cape Town and Butt said changing the playing XI will not make much of a difference.

“Even if changes are made in the Pakistan team for the second Test in South Africa, I don’t think it will make a difference,” he said. “We just don’t have players who can be expected to come up with a big innings after every three or four outings. What we need to do is somehow get to 300 in the second Test and if Muhammad Abbas plays we stand a good chance of winning.”

Butt also questioned in general that when players were defined as being fit for one or more formats, the same rule should also apply to the head coach.

“I think we need to see if Mickey Arthur or for that matter any coach has the temperament like a player to adjust to all formats or which format,” he said. “Because a coach can’t expect to have the same approach or expectations for all formats. That is not practical. I wonder if the head coach has the penchant to handle all three formats or test cricket.”

Butt’s international career was cut short after he was convicted and jailed for 30 months for his role in the 2010 Lord’s spot-fixing scandal. He was banned from playing cricket for ten years, of which five years was a suspended sentence.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...omestic-structure-for-pakistan-cricket-785970

 

[Hawkeye]

Good from Afridi.

Respect just increased for him. Keep Butt out.

 

[DRsohail]

Well done Afridi.

 

[Abdullah]

No boom afridi. Majority of people don't want this guy back and neither is he deserving

 

[Abdul]

I can appreciate Afridi for this move but he's a hypocrite for supporting Mohammad Amir on the other hand just like the majority of Pakistani fanbase.

 

[JattMaula]

Lala can always be relied upon to do the right thing.

 

[Junaids]

My respect for Shahid Afridi has never been higher.

You forget - Salman Butt only became the accidental Test captain when Shahid Afridi ran away in mid-series.

 

[Varun]

Afridi wasn't great with either bat or ball on the field, but off it he seems a nice honest guy even though the dressing room around him seemed very turbulent.

 

[Shandarchowka]

The respect for Afridi will only grow after this revelation. Very nice!

 

[Shandarchowka]

Afridi wasn't great with either bat or ball on the field, but off it he seems a nice honest guy even though the dressing room around him seemed very turbulent.

Of course it will be turbulent when cheats like Butt face off against honest guys like Afridi.

 

[Salman4.]

Double standards. Afridi supported Amir but not Butt.

 

[ShahidDar08]

Better to field with 10 players rather than playing Salman Butt - the career destroyer.

 

[Misia]

Amir was young so we forgive him, Butt and Asif will never be forgiven, an this is the same Afridi who used his spikes on the pitch, and also cought biting the ball, ps we'll also forgive sharjeel intime for the wc

and we wonder why the nation is so high on corruption

 

[Major]

It's a well-documented fact that Afridi and Butt did not get along. Not sure why Butt is so 'shocked' or 'hurt' at being omitted by a guy who blew the whistle on the spot-fixing activities in 2010.

he never blew any whistle bro

 

[Major]

You forget - Salman Butt only became the accidental Test captain when Shahid Afridi ran away in mid-series.

Afridi didn't run away.

AFridi himself knew that he didn't had the temperament to play Test Cricekt.

It was infact a very selfless decision.

 

[GBK_Fan]

Good job Afridi

 

[mak36]

Salute to Afridi.

 

[Rana]

If true, Afridi needs to be applauded. He is the rotten apple that spoiled Amir.

Yeah but why encourage the return of Amir then? Because Amir didn't bad mouth Afridi or disrespect Afridi as a player during his initial stint as a player or during his ban?

 

[Hitman]

Afridi didn't run away.

AFridi himself knew that he didn't had the temperament to play Test Cricekt.

It was infact a very selfless decision.

He took the decision to accept the Test captaincy and then retired after just the first Test of the series leaving the team in tatters for the rest of the series. You call that a selfless decision?

 

[LordEddardStark]

You forget - Salman Butt only became the accidental Test captain when Shahid Afridi ran away in mid-series.

Yeah Afridi resigned mid series which allowed Butt to become captain, which in turn allowed him to plan those no balls. So yeah Afridi shares equal blame as Butt for that fixing saga.

 

[Smbhayi]

Yeah Afridi resigned mid series which allowed Butt to become captain, which in turn allowed him to plan those no balls. So yeah Afridi shares equal blame as Butt for that fixing saga.

then PCBalso at fault too.. Afridi was retired but PCB want one Captain in all 3 format so they talk to him and he agrees to check it out.. he finds he no longer cut for it so walk away

 

[Pete Rose]

I think it’s awesome that afridi will be remembered positively for everything barring his own performance

 

[Greenstorm]

Shaba lala

 

[topspin]

For me Afridi doesn't deserve any praise because after all he was the one who bottled it, deciding to retire after just one test loss. It was quite pathetic really that he had to come out in the post-match presentation and say "I'm retiring because I don't have the temperament to play test cricket". Pakistan went on to square the series on a bowling paradise in Headingly which just shows why he needed to persist and show a bit more heart.

Because of him Salman Butt was given the reigns who then went on to spot fix in the series after.

Of course if Afridi was the one who rejected his recall he did the right thing, but the damage was already done thanks to his cowardice.

 

[Major]

He took the decision to accept the Test captaincy and then retired after just the first Test of the series leaving the team in tatters for the rest of the series. You call that a selfless decision?

he didnt leave the team in tatters.

Afridi realized he wasn't good for test, and he did the right thing by leaving. There was no point playing if he couldnt play proper test cricket.

AFter that what salman butt did was his own faults, that you cannot place on afridi.

 

[Hitman]

he didnt leave the team in tatters.

Afridi realized he wasn't good for test, and he did the right thing by leaving. There was no point playing if he couldnt play proper test cricket.

AFter that what salman butt did was his own faults, that you cannot place on afridi.

I'm not speaking about Butt here. But Afridi leaving the field midway though the series looks like a good decision to you? If he felt that he wasn't good for Test cricket, he should have quit after the series was over, not after the first match. And why did he accept the Test captaincy in the first place? Once he accepted the Test captaincy, he needed to finish that series before making his decision.

That's something gutless cowards in cricket do. And I'm not being biased here. Pretty sure anyone with a brain would say the same thing.

 

[Major]

I'm not speaking about Butt here. But Afridi leaving the field midway though the series looks like a good decision to you? If he felt that he wasn't good for Test cricket, he should have quit after the series was over, not after the first match. And why did he accept the Test captaincy in the first place? Once he accepted the Test captaincy, he needed to finish that series before making his decision.

That's something gutless cowards in cricket do. And I'm not being biased here. Pretty sure anyone with a brain would say the same thing.

again, your not getting my point.

if he figured out that he wasn't good, why risk the whole series.

Afridi was not suited for test cricket with the innings he played that day

 

[Savak]

I'm not speaking about Butt here. But Afridi leaving the field midway though the series looks like a good decision to you? If he felt that he wasn't good for Test cricket, he should have quit after the series was over, not after the first match. And why did he accept the Test captaincy in the first place? Once he accepted the Test captaincy, he needed to finish that series before making his decision.

That's something gutless cowards in cricket do. And I'm not being biased here. Pretty sure anyone with a brain would say the same thing.

He was pressurized by the PCB Chairman and the coach into accepting the test leadership even though he told them that he felt he was a misfit in the format, he had even told them that at any stage he felt he could not do justice to the role, he would step aside and walk away, which is what he did.

 

[The Viper]

Butt was never really a great T20 player. So glad this did not actually occur.

 

[PakLFC]

Afridi was hardly a saint himself often in trouble too. He had to much power in the Pak side. Glad that he has retired from the game.

 

[fitCricFan]

Salman Butt should never have even been considered as a prospect as he bright the game into disrepute and tarnished the country's name and image.

On the other hand, Afridi should have been dumped quite a while back. Infact he shouldn't have been allowed to un-retire after his first of many retirements.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

He’s talking as if he’s some gun T20 player lol.

 

[waleed88]

There is a lot of things that can be said about this, but don't want to waste my time writing about Salman Butt. We have moved on from him a long long time ago.

 

[Wristy_Shuffler]

Everything else aside, has anyone ever wondered what Butt's true potential really is? I mean considering he was one of the few pakistani batsmen post-2000's to do well against the Australians and that too as an opener.

Even when reading about the fixing thing, I read reports of how he was saying that the ball swung too much in the England tour that he was unable to prevent edges going for 4's...I mean how often did this guy actually bat for Pakistan and not himself? And how good was he when he did?

This is the thing with spot-fixing, it puts a massive * on every game these players played and the teams performance... I guess we'll never know what Butt truly was capable of as a batsman.

 

[Marathonrunner]

Any reason why this double standards, if Amir can be taken back then why not Salman Butt. If he has repented he should be forgiven

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Any reason why this double standards, if Amir can be taken back then why not Salman Butt. If he has repented he should be forgiven

removing age, one being the captain and all that stuff from the conversation, or the fact it came out in Court that Butt approached Majeed to fix (meaning he has probably been doing it for a while) look at when and how they 'repented.'

Amir admitted his guilt too late, but he did admit well before it was his final option. The judge at sentencing agreed that he been manipulated by Butt.

Butt, on the other hand, went through every legal option on the face of the earth. He maintained his innocence through prison, he appealed in the UK and then he appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. After he lost that he came back to Pakistan and kept pedalling conspiracy theories. Through out this entire time his sisters were on TV accusing the nation of not supporting their brother enough.

It was only then when every possible avenue was exhausted that Butt admitted his guilt. Put simply he was sorry he was caught, not sorry for what he did.

Amir was sorry, too late but sorry, Butt, however, has always acted as if he is the victim

 

[aukhan]

Good decision from Afridi then.

 

[HuzaifaE]

Rare moment where Afridi earned some deserved plaudits, bravo

 

[Marathonrunner]

removing age, one being the captain and all that stuff from the conversation, or the fact it came out in Court that Butt approached Majeed to fix (meaning he has probably been doing it for a while) look at when and how they 'repented.'

Amir admitted his guilt too late, but he did admit well before it was his final option. The judge at sentencing agreed that he been manipulated by Butt.

Butt, on the other hand, went through every legal option on the face of the earth. He maintained his innocence through prison, he appealed in the UK and then he appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. After he lost that he came back to Pakistan and kept pedalling conspiracy theories. Through out this entire time his sisters were on TV accusing the nation of not supporting their brother enough.

It was only then when every possible avenue was exhausted that Butt admitted his guilt. Put simply he was sorry he was caught, not sorry for what he did.

Amir was sorry, too late but sorry, Butt, however, has always acted as if he is the victim

Thanks bro

 

[saeed5646]

Bump

It will fan to watch afridi vs salman butt.especailly there hand shake after the match

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Any reason why this double standards, if Amir can be taken back then why not Salman Butt. If he has repented he should be forgiven

Amir played under MYK, MOYO and Afridi he was fine... This Captain idiot spoiled Amir's career... Asif is a repeated offender, easy to convince to spot fix but for Amir it was Butt who forced him to do the fixing along with him and Asif...