Salman Butt disappointed after continued selection snub by PCB

Since serving a ban for sport-fixing that ended in September 2015, former Pakistan batsman Salman Butt has not been called up to represent the national team despite his decent performances in domestic cricket. Butt, who was appointed captain of the Pakistan Test team after Shahid Afridi’s retirement in 2010, faced a 10-year ban from cricket after having been found guilty of spot-fixing allegations. He was convicted and jailed for 30 months for conspiracy charges relating to the spot-fixing, along with fellow cricketers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif.

And while Amir has been given a second lease of life by the PCB, Butt has been treated like an outcast ever since his return to the sport. Despite consistent results in the PSL and Pakistan domestic cricket since 2016, Butt has not been called up for even one of  Pakistan’s home or away series.

"Nobody [from the board] has contacted me. 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 the series upcoming, it is good that you have reminded of it.

On his return to the domestic circuit, Butt immediately made the headlines. He led Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to their maiden Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (Pakistan's premier first-class tournament) title. In the 10 matches that he played, he hit four centuries and two fifties, as he scored a total of 741 runs at an average of 49.40. The next season, Butt led them to the final.

"Some of the players [who were banned after the PSL spot-fixing scandal broke out] have served minor bans and are now playing again and I am still stuck there. This makes no sense that I have to bear consequences of someone else's actions. It is common sense. I have done my job. I have completed my rehab and served my punishment. I should have no link whether someone does anything right or wrong," Butt told Cricbuzz after Stumps on the opening day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.