Salman Butt released early from prison
Butt, jailed for 30 months for spot-fixing, was released after serving seven. -Photo by AP
LONDON: Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt was released from prison in Britain on Thursday after serving seven months of a two-and-a-half year term for involvement in a match-fixing scam that sent shock waves through the world of cricket.
His solicitors confirmed the 27-year-old had been freed from Canterbury prison in southeast England.
“His return back home will allow Salman to spend time with his family and relatives,” his solicitors said in a statement.
“He will get to see and hold his son whom he has not seen since
his birth in November last year.
“He can now return to his beloved homeland, start to re-build his reputation and begin the long process in his efforts to return back to top-level cricket. He is tired and jaded.”
Butt, who has played 33 tests, 78 one-day internationals and 24 Twenty20s for his country, was sentenced for his part in Pakistan bowling deliberate no-balls during a test against England at Lord’s in 2010.
The spot-fixing conspiracy was uncovered after a British newspaper recorded sports agent Mazhar Majeed boasting of how he could arrange for players to rig games for money.
Opening batsman Butt’s team mates Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were also sentenced.
Seam bowler Asif, 29, was released from prison in May after serving half of his one-year term.
Paceman Amir, 20, was freed from a young offenders institution in February after serving half of a six-month sentence.
All three were banned for a minimum of five years by the International Cricket Council.
We all agree that he has done bad to himself, his career and most importantly his country.
Keeping that in mind, we need to acknowledge that he has served in jail, he has admitted his wrongdoing and is ashamed of his actions.
Fact is, Pakistan is his home and he is coming back to his family. We need to respect that and make sure that he stays loyal to all of us in the futures. Lets give him a chance to live a normal ife and PCB or anyother organization utilize his services(obviously not as a cricketer).
Salman should be given a life time ban from playing cricket at any level. He needs to be taught a severe lesson.
Canterbury prison in southeast England is home now
In a country where accountability is a joke, where President, Prime Minister, Army Chiefs, ministers etc have no regard for any constitution and law, these issues will continue to surface.
He has served his sentence and hopefully repent his wrongdoing. So why not we allow him to return to a normal life.. Why all of us are displaying so much impatience???
He is a disgrace and has caused embarrassment to thousands of Pakistanis
He should never be allowed on cricketing grounds as a player. However, PCB should use his services to warn others before the start of an international fixture. He should also give lectures to the up and coming cricketers.
He shouldn.t b a part of PCB, even he shouldn't be allow to watch a cricket match in Pakistan's stadium
Those who brought dis-fame for the country should be baned for lifetime. What is most important than country ???
IMAN is more important. However anyone with iman wouldn't have done what he did.
Pakistanis don't but the rest of the world do have ethics and the rule of law, well most of the world exept places like Somalia, Congo, Ethiopia and our land of the pure.
Tomatoes and rotten eggs are desperately waiting for salman butt in pakistan
Not all crimes and criminals can be treated in the same way. We must not forget that their conviction and sentencing and mental agony they had to go through was enough of a punishment in the first place and I think it serves the ends of justice if they are let go. Let us now forgive and forget. People make mistakes; those who repent and serve their punishment must be welcomed back in society with open arms and allowed to rehabilitate and rebuild their lives. These people have families and imagine how happy they would be to re-start their lives. If they repeat their mistakes (which I VERY much doubt) it will be to their disgrace and detriment. I am excited that a new Amir will be back with a vengeance. Let us embrace him and let us see the new Akram evolve in him.
Watch him plead innocence,claim that it was all a plot against Pakistan and bring religion in his statements as well.Basically, anything that can get him a sympathy vote.And if he is man enough,he should admit his wrong doing and uproot this cancer or at least start a movement.That'll be the only right thing to have come out of this.
He and his beloved Pakistan! I wish that once he sets foot on this land, he should immediately be arrested for defaming and bringing bad name to Pakistan by his greed and inclination to crime and criminal practices to enrich himself. He is a criminal and that's exactly how we must remember this man, shame on him.
What a shameful exit! Do we have ethical standards???????????
This man should not have been released so early into his sentence. His crime was despicable who not only maligned the country's name but also was responsible for ruining the career of a most promising young cricketer. Should have been left to rot in the cell.
I hope he will finally show remorse for his doings instead of insisting his usual state of denial.