Cricket runs through my veins and blood – Salman Butt

Salman Butt, the former Pakistan captain, is expecting to make a return to international cricket and hopes that the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) will reduce the length of the ban imposed on him.

The left-handed opener, who was leading the Green Shirts in the Test series in England in 2010, was found involved in the spot-fixing controversy, following the deliberate no-balls delivered by Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif.

The trio was later banned from all sorts of competitive cricket and was jailed in England. Butt is facing a ban of 10 years from competitive cricket with suspended period. However, the cricketer from Lahore filed an appeal in the CAS against his ban.

Butt said in a statement released after a day-long hearing that he wants to get involved in the game once again and wishes to represent his country in future.

“I am grateful to the CAS that they have allowed me this opportunity to appeal this sentence,” said the former Pakistan captain. “Since September 2010, until now, I have not been able to play any meaningful game of cricket: to coach or to even be involved in the administration of the game.”

The 28-year-old cricketer came through the ranks of junior cricket in the country, having led Pakistan Under-17s and Pakistan Under-19s on a number of occasions. After performing well in domestic cricket, the left-hander made his Test debut in 2003 and did well for his country in patches.

By 2010, Salman had cemented his place in the national team and was handed over the Test captaincy after Shahid Afridi’s sudden retirement from the longer version of the game, having lost the Lord’s Test against Australia.

Butt loves the game and expressed that it runs through his veins and blood. The former Pakistan captain is expecting a change of fortunes after his hearing in the CAS.

“I love cricket: it is something that runs through me in my veins and my blood. I await the decision of the CAS. It means so much to me. I truly pray that they can change it for me by reducing the sentence,” he added.

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Posted by Yasir Hashmi on Feb 9 2013. Filed under Sports, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.