Butt upbeat as CAS hearing begins
-Photo by Reuters
LAUSANNE: Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt appeared upbeat as he arrived at a Swiss court Friday in a bid to overturn a ban imposed for spot-fixing and revive his cricket career.
“I feel good,” Butt said as he arrived at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, shortly after 9:00 am (0800 GMT).
His appearance comes a day after Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif appeared before the court, in what he described to AFP as a “quite busy” day of hearings about the infamous Lord’s Test against England in 2010.
Butt, Asif and fellow paceman Mohammad Amir were banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2011 after being found guilty of deliberately contriving no balls to order in that match.
The trio were also jailed by a British court over the scandal in November 2011. All three were released last year after completing half of their sentences.
The 28-year-old former Pakistan captain said in a statement Thursday he was hoping the hearing, which will last until Friday afternoon, would help end his suspension and allow him to return to the game he loves.
Butt, who was banned from the game for 10 years, with the possibility of five suspended, has argued though that the suspension was a career-ending punishment, and has insisted he should be given another opportunity to play for Pakistan.
“Cricket is my life and every single day that has passed has been so painful because I have not been able to play,” he said Thursday in a statement issued by his lawyer.
“All I want is an opportunity to get back into cricket whilst I am still young and I can still play well.”
A ruling in the case is expected within the next three weeks.
They should not be allowed to play. These players have given the entire team a bad name. Players that win fair and square will always be frowned upon by other teams. That’s what happens. It’s a case of one bad apple. I think Pakistan team is better off without any match fixers.It’s sad that talented players have their career ended like this. But they have no one to blame other than themselves.
the shame that these 3 cricketers brought on us PAKISTANIS is hard to get erased from our hearts/memories. I sincerely hope that even if they are cleared to play, PCB should not consider them for selection in the national team ever or else we will get more players involvement if future fixings.
On behalf of the global cricket fraternity, I would like to assure Salman Butt that if he has in fact and truly not done anything wrong, he should not fear anybody. I also assure him that true justice will be dispensed in his case within weeks not months or years as well as in the case of his former teammate Mohammad Asif by CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland, which is by far the highest global court originally set up in 1984 as part of IOC to settle disputes pertaining to sports, sportsmen and sportswomen.
Nevertheless, if he and his former teammate has in essence done something wrong, then nobody including the CAS can do anything to save him and his friend.
Hopefully, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif have done their homework appropriately before filing their petition with CAS. Furthermore, they should have thought about the consequences as well as the repercussions of their petition before CAS in case if it goes for or against them.
Best of luck to both these budding and out-standing cricketers in getting true justice from the CAS.
On behalf of the global cricket fraternity, I would like to assure Salman Butt that if he has in fact and truly not done anything wrong, he should not fear anybody. I also assure him that true justice will be dispensed in his case within weeks not months or years as well as in the case of his former teammate Mohammad Asif by CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland, which is by far the highest global court originally set up in 1984 as part of IOC to settle disputes pertaining to sports, sportsmen and sportswomen.
Nevertheless, if he and his former teammate has in essence done something wrong, then nobody including the CAS can do anything to save him and his friend.
Hopefully, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif have done their homework appropriately before filing their petition with CAS. Furthermore, they should have thought about the consequences as well as the repercussions of their petition before CAS in case if it goes for or against them.
Best of luck to both these budding and out-standing cricketers in getting true justice from the CAS.
Court must uphold the punishment. Those involved in match/spot fixing play with the sentiments of entire nation…shame on you butt, Asif & Amir.
the court must uphold the punishment. those involved in match fixing/corruption cheated the whole nation, played with the sentiments of patriotic Pakistanis and caused insult to the nation.
Oh Butt, how innocent. My heartfelt sympathies for you and the injustice that you have been wrongly subjected to.
I hope things works out for them. Lesson learnt the hard way.
I think both (him and Asif) have run out of cash and are eagerly waiting for a re-entry into cricket; but this time for a much bigger booty to enjoy life with. Good and keep it up because both of you will definitely be selected no matter what.