(Cricket News) Before Pakistan’s five-match Twenty20 International series against New Zealand in 2019, the Pakistan Cricket Board made a significant move by adding Salman Butt, the disgraced former captain, to the national selection panel.
The 39-year-old, who successfully returned to cricket in 2016 after serving a five-year ban for spot-fixing, has been named as a consultant member to the recently appointed chief selector, Wahab Riaz. Butt’s involvement in spot-fixing during the August 2010 Test match between Pakistan and England resulted in a five-year suspension.
The former opener, Butt, was last month hired by the PCB for commentary assignments for domestic competitions and is currently busy in the National T20 Championship. After returning to cricket in 2016, Butt enjoyed great success as a batter and captain in domestic competitions but was never considered for the national team again, even though his partner in crime, Muhammad Amir, was fast tracked back into the Pakistan side in 2016 by the board.
Under Butt’s leadership, Pakistan secured victories in two Test matches in 2010—one at Headingly against Australia and the other at the Oval against England. Despite acknowledging his poor choices, Butt has consistently complained about unfair treatment.
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