LAHORE, June 29: Tainted former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has alleged that his fellow player Mohammad Aamir and bookie Mazhar Majeed were the main culprits involved in the spot-fixing scam which happened in the Lord’s Test against England in the 2010 series, resulting in the suspension of the three Pakistani cricketers.
“I have got definite evidence against Aamir as the forensic report is mentioning an exchange of as many as 9,000 text messages in just 14 days between Aamir and Mazhar,” said Salman who, along with Aamir and Mohammad Asif, was banned by the ICC.
All three faced jail sentences in the United Kingdom for their involvement in the infamous spot-fixing scandal.
“This evidence can expose those who made the plan and executed it on the field at Lord’s,” Salman said.
When asked why he did not submit the forensic report before the English court or the ICC to defend himself, Salman said it took about 10 months to get the report from a Canadian laboratory but the ICC had already announced its decision some four months before it was received.
“The forensic report could also not be discussed in the English court because both Aamir and Asif had already pleaded guilty and they both did not appear before the court during the trials. Even the jury was not informed why both could not appear before the court,” he disclosed.
Salman claimed that the forensic report had proved that he was not involved in the scam.
“Since the scandal has surfaced, I have never maligned either Aamir or Asif because I didn’t want to blame any one since we are all Pakistanis. But today I am naming Aamir because he has blamed me for the scam in a TV interview,” he said.
“I am the only man among the three who is speaking to the media openly, taking all the questions today just to get myself cleared of this shame. Why Aamir and Asif have not taken the media into confidence is for you to think,” said Salman.
“I am a Pakistani and I have to live here and my children are to grow here and lead their lives. So it is my prime responsibility to get myself cleared from my nation. However, I have submitted an appeal against the five-year ban imposed by the ICC before the World Court of Arbitration in Sports and whenever the court will call me, I will defend my position,” said the former opener who appeared brimming with confidence.
He said only the World Court of Arbitration had the authority to overturn the ban on him and he had great hopes for a positive decision in his favour.
He said though the English court which announced a 30-month jail sentence for him was a well-reputed court, he did not receive justice from it.
After spending eight months in the London prison, Salman appealed for deportation which was accepted by the English authorities and he finally returned to Pakistan early this week.
Salman admitted that his only blunder was not to inform the PCB or the ICC when some people made contact with him for doing wrong thing. For that, he has already asked the nation for forgiveness.
He further said that nearly two years of his five-year suspension from the international cricket had been passed and he was determined to stage a comeback.
Salman also suggested that Pakistan judicial system should also see the forensic report since it was now a public document in England. He also appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of it and reinvestigate the whole issue.
Later, he distributed the copy of the forensic report which listed the details of Aamir and Mazhar’s contacts between Aug 7 and 28, 2010.
In last such contact between the two, made on Aug 28 at 21:25, Aamir had said: “Aamir here, don’t call my phone, ICC police have taken it and don’t contact this number either, it’s my friend’s phone. Are you able to delete those calls that you made to me?”