PCB contains Salman Butt in nationwide choice panel

In a significant improvement, the Pakistan Cricket Board has included tainted former captain Salman Butt within the nationwide choice panel forward of Pakistan’s five-match T20I collection in opposition to New Zealand subsequent 12 months.

The 39-year-old, who made a profitable return to cricket in 2016 after serving a five-year ban for spot-fixing, has been named together with former teammates Kamran Akmal and Rao Iftikhar Anjum as marketing consultant members to the recently-appointed chief selector, Wahab Riaz.

Butt was suspended for 5 years for his position in spot-fixing in the course of the Pakistan and England Test match in August 2010.

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After returning to cricket in 2016, Butt loved lots of success as a batter and captain in home competitions however was by no means thought-about for the nationwide workforce once more, despite the fact that his companion in crime, Muhammad Amir was fast-tracked again into the Pakistan aspect in 2016 by the board.

Butt, a former opener, was final month employed for commentary assignments by the PCB for home competitions and is presently busy within the National T20 Championship.

“Their first assignment as consultant members to the chief selector includes the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, set to commence on 12 January 2024 following the conclusion of the Test tour to Australia,” PCB mentioned in a launch.

“When not engaged in selection duties, the consultant members may be assigned additional tasks such as conducting skills camps.” Butt, Kamran, chief selector Wahab Riaz and former Test pacer, Anjum all performed collectively within the Pakistan workforce alongside the Director of the Pakistan workforce, Muhammad Hafeez.

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Kamran, in a 15-year profession, performed 53 Tests, 157 ODIs and 58 T20Is, whereas Butt appeared in 33 Tests, 78 ODIs and 24 T20Is, and Anjum performed a Test, 62 ODIs and two T20Is from 2004 to 2010.

Butt, Amir and Muhammad Asif have been all discovered responsible of spot-fixing by the nationwide crime company within the United Kingdom and in addition served time in jail and the International Cricket Council imposed the bans on them.

Butt, underneath whose captaincy Pakistan received a Test in opposition to Australia at Headingley and one in opposition to England on the Oval in 2010, has at all times complained of being handled unjustly whereas admitting his regret over his actions.

A couple of years again, then-head coach Waqar Younis had advisable his title for a comeback to the nationwide workforce, however former captain Shahid Afridi refused to let him make a comeback within the workforce.