Salman Butt reportedly confesses to PCB about involvement in 2010 spot-fixing case

Salman Butt

Banned Pakistan captain and opening batsman has reportedly made a full-fledged confession to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the very first time. Butt was found guilty of spot-fixing in 2010, when Pakistan was playing a Test series England. He was banned along with Mohammad Asif and young pacer Mohammad Amir.

“Apparently Butt during his meeting made a full confession that he knew and was involved in the spot-fixing that took place in the fourth Test against England at Lord’s and that he had instructed Aamir and Asif to bowl the no-balls,” a PCB source said.

“Butt also expressed his complete regret and said he was willing to cooperate totally with the ICC,” added the source.

The spot-fixing scandal

Butt was found guilty of asking Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif to bowl deliberate no-balls during Pakistan’s 4th away encounter with England in the Test series. He purportedly did so in exchange of a large sum of money from Pakistani bookie Mazhar Majeed, who is currently jailed for the offense. Butt was declared the mastermind of the whole operation and is currently facing a five-year ban imposed by the ICC.

The change of heart

“Butt had a change of heart after he approached the PCB to also plead his case with the ICC anti-corruption unit to review his ban under the revised anti-corruption laws, under which Mohammad Amir has got a relaxation to play domestic cricket before his five-year ban ends in September this year,” said the same source.

The confession was demanded by the ICC as they weren’t satisfied by the previously agreed involvement in the scandal by Butt and Asif. PCB has requested a new review on Butt's current ban so that he could start playing domestic cricket before his ban ends.

Butt hasn’t played for Pakistan since that Lord’s Test against England in 2010.