LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday issued to media the confessional statement made to it by tainted former captain Salman Butt.

The dishonoured former captain has recently submitted a written apology to the country’s cricket governing body in connection with the infamous 2010 spot-fixing scandal.

By confessing that he was involved in the notorious 2010 spot-fixing scandal occurred during the final Test against England at Lord’s, Salman has left himself at the mercy of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Apologising to all those associated with the game of cricket including the PCB, players and fans in general, the dishonoured captain stated in his apology letter to the PCB: “I admit the decision of the ICC tribunal. I said before and am saying again to all those who have been disappointed by my actions that I do apologise to them.

“Also, I would like to apologise for the negative effect it had on the integrity of the game. I want to tell all those, playing and wanting to play cricket, that they must stay away from such wrongdoings because it negatively affects them and the game of cricket.”

The PCB has dispatched the statement to the ICC for further proceedings having made it sure that the written apology of the tainted cricketer will easily enable the Board to ask him to undergo the rehabilitation programme which is necessary for the former opener to get his five-year ban suspended out of total 10.

About his rehabilitation, the tainted cricketer expressed his willingness to participate in it, stating: “For public education and my rehabilitation I am available to work with the Pakistan Cricket Board in articulating the sentiments expressed above to such audiences, in such players and over such period of time as the Pakistan Cricket Board may require in order to instill in others the requisite knowledge required to make them aware of the adverse impact of partaking in such nefarious activities.”

On the other hand, it has emerged that the proposed rehabilitation programme is not a lengthy one, since the tainted former captain has to confess to committing the crime before any emerging playing XI, urging the youngsters to stay away from dubious acts.

In this regard, the PCB invited the dishonoured cricketer on June 10 at the National Cricket Academy but the event was cancelled with Salman being informed by the Board just a day before.

The former opening batsman along with two Pakistan fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were caught in spot-fixing after tabloid News of the World exposed that the two fast bowlers planned to deliver deliberate no-balls as part of the spot-fixing in the 2010 Lord’s Test. Later on, exactly the same happened.

Afterwards, the ICC sidelined the trio and later on its tribunal suspended Amir for five years, Salman and Asif for ten and seven years respectively, with five and two years suspended to last two, provided they complete the rehabilitation programme of the ICC.

All the three were also sent behind the bar in England. Later, they were released when they expressed desire that they wanted to complete their jail terms in Pakistani. But when they arrived in Pakistan, the government did not take any action against them.

Earlier, Salman had also confessed to his crime in 2013 before media on the instructions of the ICC to get relief but the world governing body was not satisfied with the words and the will he showed while confessing before media.

However, after submitting a written statement to the PCB which has sent it to the ICC, Salman is likely to get a chance to complete his rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the PCB.

Full text of Salman Butt's confessional statement

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2015

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