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Salman Butt reportedly being considered for Pakistan ‘A’ team against England Lions

Waseem Ahmed

22:48 04/09/2018

Disgraced former Pakistan captain Salman Butt is back in the limelight but this time for a different set of reasons.

The 33-year-old left-handed batsman has been overlooked, quite understandably, by the Pakistan management for three years following the expiry of the five-year ban imposed on him for his involvement in the 2010 Lord’s Test spot-fixing scandal.

Left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir, also implicated in that scandal, came back into the team almost immediately upon the completion of his ban but Butt, who was seen as the leader of the operation and much more aware of the seriousness of the situation than the-then teenaged Amir,  has not found many supporters in the Pakistan senior establishment.

Butt returned to domestic cricket in 2016 and hit top form straightaway, helping his team WAPDA win Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class tournament. However, despite promises of being considered for selection, Butt didn’t get a look-in. It is believed the 2017 PSL spot-fixing scandal made the management edgy about optics.

However, it seems there is a ray of hope for Butt. According to reports in Pakistan, Butt has a good chance of making it to the Pakistan ‘A’ that will face the England Lions towards the end of the year in the UAE.

Speaking to Cricbuzz, Butt said he deserves an opportunity just like Amir and should at least get to play for Pakistan ‘A’.

“Nobody from the board has contacted me,” Butt said. “Inzi bhai had said in a press conference that I would be tried in the A team first. That time the A tour did not happen. Now with this series coming up, it is good that you have reminded of it.”

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