The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Shahryar Khan has confirmed that there are no restrictions or reservations against Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammed Asif against playing international cricket. This means that both the cricketers could be considered for national team selection but would have to prove their fitness and form to the selection committee.
This news came in just after the two of them were considering writing a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to confirm their stance on the matter.
"There is no restriction or reservations from us or the ICC. The fact is that the national selectors can consider them for selection but first they have to show their form and fitness at a consistent level in domestic cricket," Khan said.
The two cricketers currently play for the Water and Power Development Authority in Pakistan’s domestic league Quaid-E-Azam which is currently in the Super 8 stage. While Asif has been picking up regular wickets and troubling the batsmen like he used to, Butt has been sub-par with an average of 36.50 in 9 matches so far. They will be looking to give it their all in the final stages of the tournament and send a message to the national selectors.
“I have served my ban and if I perform well I want to know I can get a fair shot at making a comeback. I could ask the ICC to just clear the situation about us,” said Asif in an interview with PTI.
“I just want to know that if we perform the selectors will consider us properly and invite us for camps,” he continued.
Butt and Asif, along with current Pakistani pacer Mohammed Amir were found guilty of spot-fixing during their tour of England back in 2010. They were convicted of taking bribes from a bookmaker, Mazhar Majeed, to under-perform deliberately at certain times in a Test match at Lord's, London, in 2010.
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All 3 of them were suspended by the ICC after a sting operation carried out by the News of the World agency. Butt was initially suspended for 10 years which was later cut down by 5, Asif was suspended for 7 years which was cut down by 2, and Amir was suspended for 5 years.
While Amir has made a successful return to the national side, Butt and Asif would be hoping to follow suit and soon make a mark on the big stage once again.
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