Butt continues impressive run as Waqar hints at opportunity

Dawn Sport Published January 12, 2016

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt on Tuesday continued his impressive form and scored an unbeaten 99 against Karachi in the domestic National One-Day Cup.

The left-handed opening batsman was playing his second match on his return from a five-year ban after he was proven guilty of involvement in the infamous spot-fixing scandal in 2010.

Butt, 31, announced his return to the cricketing fold with a blistering 135 off 143 balls playing for the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) against Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) two days ago.

Mohammad Asif, Butt’s aide in the spot-fixing episode, also made his comeback in the same match by claiming two wickets. Both the players were representing Wapda.

The left-handed batsman's latest innings comes right after Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis's comments that the duo deserved to come back in contention for the national squad if they perform well enough.

Waqar believed the duo deserved a second chance as they have already completed their punishment.

“The way I see it if Butt and Asif perform well in their comeback in domestic cricket why can't they be considered for a second chance to play international cricket,” said Waqar while talking to Geo News.

“All the three did the same wrong and also underwent the same punishment so why should they be treated [any] differently,” he added.

Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi earlier endorsed the return of Mohammad Amir to the national side, adding that the left-arm pacer deserved to make a comeback because of his ‘truthfulness’.

The swashbuckling all-rounder was of the opinion that the remaining two of the tainted trio do not deserve forgiveness as they did not confess to their crime readily.

“Amir spoke the truth both to courts and the Pakistani public,” said Afridi, adding: “Unlike the rest who kept lying for two-three years.”

Waqar, however, did not agree to Afridi's point of view.

“I don't know what Shahid (Afridi) is thinking; maybe he has his reasons but generally I think Butt and Asif deserve same chance as Amir and if they show form and fitness, why not consider them for selection,” said Waqar.

“We cut their hands by banning them from all cricket for five years, it was a strong punishment for what they did.

“Now that they have served their punishment and appear to have learnt their lesson why shouldn't they be given a second chance, it could also be good for Pakistan cricket.

“There has never been any doubt about their cricketing abilities.”

Sport

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Players cannot be counselled after they become ‘stars’: Waqar Younis

Abdul Majid

Jan 12, 2016 05:14pm

I've stopped watching cricket. It is over hyped, full of idiots, no real world cup wins for around two decades..and full of scandals. Time for Pakistanis to diversify interest in different sports. Hockey, tennis, soccer, etc.

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Mansoor Sajid

Jan 12, 2016 05:16pm

Mr. Waqar - don't even think of bring the duo back to the national side for their dirty act, which tarnished the image of Pakistan. Let them play at the club or current level to earn their living.

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Javid Shirazi

Jan 12, 2016 05:17pm

Performance alone must be selection criteria. Rest is all a fairy tale.

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Asif Kashmiri

Jan 12, 2016 05:18pm

@Abdul Majid very well said!!!

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Asif Jamil

Jan 12, 2016 05:25pm

Waqar does have a point - they have served their punishment. If there is any doubt they are may indulge in the same activity again, keep them out. Asif has had a few issues outside cricket also. I spoke to Ramiz Raja once in Dubai Mall, he believes very strongly indeed that they should be kept out so that others will refrain. This sort of thing went on for quite some time he said. You can tell Ramiz was very proud to wear Pakistan jersey. I wonder how many had the same pride!

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Abu Hamza

Jan 12, 2016 05:35pm

What punishment did PCB give them?

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Ahmed31

Jan 12, 2016 05:40pm

@Mansoor Sajid Why let Amir play then? Either all 3 of them deserve to play or none of them

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Faisal

Jan 12, 2016 05:47pm

Waqar has a lenient view point as he was himself involve din these shady deals for a number of years!

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Jan 12, 2016 05:58pm

I am beginning to like Waqar. There is nothing better than repentance, reflection and redemption. All three players have served their bans and will carry this tainted mark through their career and biographies for their generations to come. I think regardless of whether they get to play again, this alone is a punishment. We Pakistanis are stubborn and harsh when it comes to forgiveness. In Islam, forgiveness holds no boundaries. Either we act as individuals and continue our not so good approach and be better muslims and forgive and make sure these guys are surrounded by an effective compliance and audit network, that helps prevent all such things from happening again.

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Tariq

Jan 12, 2016 05:59pm

@Javid Shirazi well said. Verbose and lengthy arguments are not necessarily correct.

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Kabeela Khan

Jan 12, 2016 06:04pm

Very well said OZ!

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Taimoor Shaukat

Jan 12, 2016 06:11pm

Such is the state of the nation. Encouraging tainted players to represent is like letting the honest ones know their honesty wont take them far. Better be tainted and rich than be honest and poor?

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Iqbal Khan

Jan 12, 2016 06:35pm

Waqar is right about giving 2nd chance to duo.

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muhammad mushtaq

Jan 12, 2016 06:35pm

Salman u just one match away frm national team if made another century waqar. Asif u have to perform well 2 wckts nt enough to take attntion.

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Who am I?

Jan 12, 2016 06:51pm

They must return to international cricket if and only if their performance at domestic level is good enough. Both of them must have the fair opportunity. Period.

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Umair Khalid

Jan 12, 2016 07:01pm

@Javid Shirazi well said!

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adnan

Jan 12, 2016 07:07pm

duo must be a part of squad if they perform well...

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Khadim

Jan 12, 2016 07:10pm

I sometimes feel that Cricket matches are fixed by ICC and when some tries to fix at his own, he is punished, Who knows i may be right.

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Cyrus

Jan 12, 2016 07:10pm

5 years and still no replacent for Salman and Asif.. This is tantamount to the fact that young upcoming stars are not nurtured like they should.. Pakistan's talent bank is equal if not larger than any other cricketing nation.. These youths make it to a certain level and then BOOM BOOM like a Afridi sixer into the stands. We commoners can talk,write and sulk but this corrupt system of ours is extremely strong and shall always prevail.

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Jan 12, 2016 07:14pm

Lying or not they have suffer the punishment....I was hoping that Asif's return will be the best out of the three tarnished and but Salman is doing well, Amir has just the dream comeback....and I was never hoping to cheer for them but I guess their effort just left me nothing but with cheers ...

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AdyLondon

Jan 12, 2016 07:20pm

Let's the fun begin !!!

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zem

Jan 12, 2016 07:22pm

Please don't ignore Sadaf Hussain.He is also Talented .

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Adnan

Jan 12, 2016 07:47pm

Our team is becoming ex inmates team. This can only happen in Pakistan because people supported one tainted player and now the other are lining up to join the squad.

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N_Saq

Jan 12, 2016 07:58pm

Here comes out the Nay Sayers and the Ye Sayers. Please follow the policy, rules and regulations. It doesn't matter what one thinks and yes, someone is right here - if you don't like it the watch another sport. People in Pak need to learn how to obey the laws, follow rules and regulations and enforce policies and procedures because that is how things work in the West and not at someone's whims. The President can even lose his/her job if he/she does not obey the law or follow rules and regulations.

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PAKFAN

Jan 12, 2016 08:12pm

Waqar Saab, Both Asif and Salman come infront of media. Accept their mistake and apologize to everyone first. With their arrogance and damn fool attitude very hard to trust them!!!

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Larkanavi

Jan 12, 2016 08:30pm

You can not punish a person twice for the same wrong doing. They should be considered for a second chance based on merit.

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PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Jan 12, 2016 09:07pm

Whatever, you won't be selected.

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Peter Parvez Masud

Jan 12, 2016 09:10pm

So what's next? get Salim Malik as head coach. Really? With Amir , I feel it was justified, because, the benefit of doubt went in his favor. Also, Amir was not cocky or arrogant but instead, worked with ICC/PCB to restore his tarnished reputation and be humble about it. I fail to see any remorse with these two but they assume all is well and are forgiven to resume. I think there will be major setback for PCB if these two are allowed back, even though , Asif would be big plus.

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Feroz Khan

Jan 12, 2016 09:14pm

We can't punish one person twice for the same wrong doing. Let's move on and select them based on their performance. God will not forgive you, if you punish one person twice for the same wrong doing.

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Nooru52

Jan 12, 2016 09:52pm

Amir is ok but please dont take these 2.

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Shahid

Jan 12, 2016 11:28pm

If Amir can be selected, then surely Asif can as well, who is a greater bowler than Amir anyway.

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Amir

Jan 13, 2016 02:48am

With them two back I will stop following Pakistan cricket and like me may be millions of other fan as no one can trust them two.

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sam

Jan 13, 2016 03:23am

imagine if asif or amir is bowling and one of the guys in the team dropped a catch by chance of their bowling, and suddenly as reaction to this asif or amir throw abuse at this player for that one incident what would be their reaction? If I am the fielder and asif or amir throw abuse at me atleast I would walk to them and give them a nice slap on their face that they will never forget. Tainted players should never be brought back. People feel sympathy for them on how they going to earn if they are not given a chance. Let me ask this? if u are fired from a bank for stealing money from the bank will the bank rehire him ever again? no ..same should be applied to cricket. Its simply not fair on other emerging players to bring these rogues back. it sends the wrong message that anyone could fix matches and earn big money and get away with a short term suspension..i guess corruption is a way of life in Pakistan. Look at India. no case against sreesanth was proved at court.yet his career is ov

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optimist

Jan 13, 2016 03:25am

The PCB is run by a bunch of tainted players, they have no ethics. What about Danish Kaneria, why can't he also play for Pakistan or there is a different rule for smaller province players and for minority player.

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ravian

Jan 13, 2016 04:10am

let,s face the truth, current openers below average. Current pacers lack a game winner. otherwise coach will not even mention the name of trio.

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SIAK

Jan 13, 2016 09:35am

Mr. Waqar should not fuel intrigues, especially, when the world cup is approaching.

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Vic

Jan 13, 2016 11:03pm

Many a Pakistani are ignorant of the fact that you cannot punish twice for the same crime. As the court of law sentenced them to jail---and after they had done their time---PCB or any other agency cannot punish them again. They can also appeal to the court of law that punished them to re-instate their rights completely---and make make them " a whole citizen ". The court can then take further action by looking at their behaviour and if it feel that they have been rehabiliated---it can EXPUNGE the record of the case.

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