Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan opening batsman and Test captain Salman Butt has said that he wants to achieve something great with Pakistan so he can leave cricket with peace of mind, stating that his biggest motivation for playing cricket is to once again wear the colours of the country. “My motivation was and still is to represent Pakistan again,” said Salman. “I want to achieve something great for the country and outperform my previous achievements.” The 32-year-old – who has impressed since returning to cricket after serving out the five-year ban he received for his role in the spot-fixing scandal of 2010 – is in contention for a place in the Test squad for the upcoming three-match series against West Indies.

However, many believe he will be overlooked due to the recent spot-fixing scandal that emerged in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), with the management thought to be hesitant in calling up a player that has become synonymous with the scourge. The stylish left-hander said that it would be disappointing if his return to the national side is delayed due to any other reason than his own batting form. “First of all, I don’t know about any such claim,” he said. “I don’t know what sources are being quoted when people are saying that the selectors informed me that I will not be selected due to the recent scandal, since that is not the case.”

However, Salman did admit he was told he was in contention for a spot in the side. “The indication I got was that I will be on the plane to West Indies, but so far, no one has contacted me,” he revealed. “However, if someone deserving is not getting a chance due to something out of their control, then it will be extremely disappointing.”

Talking about corruption in cricket, the Lahore-born opener said it seemed difficult to stop it completely especially considering so much was already being done to tackle it. “I am sure the International Cricket Council (ICC) and all the cricket boards are doing all they can to stop this, but, somehow it keeps coming up again and again,” he said. “I have no idea why the ICC and the other boards are unable to control it. The players are being given lectures all the time as well as all the assistance they should get from the authorities, but still it seems that something somewhere is missing. These things need to be curtailed, but I don’t know how this can be stopped.”