Former skipper of Pakistan men’s cricket team Salman Butt is no more on selection panel as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday removed him from the position of consultant to Chief Selector Wahab Riaz.
The decision was announced by Wahab Riaz while addressing a news conference in Lahore.
A substantial public outcry against the inclusion of Butt, a day after the initial announcement alongside Kamran Akmal and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, became the reason behind reversal of the decision.
Butt, previously, embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal, was banned from international cricket along with other Pakistani players including Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir.
Addressing the presser, Riaz clarified that Butt was not officially part of any PCB panel but had been serving as a cricket consultant due to his cricketing acumen and experience covering domestic cricket over the past few years.
Despite Butt’s ban and subsequent public apologies, his association with the sport remained a contentious point.
Acknowledging the public discourse surrounding Butt’s inclusion, Riaz expressed gratitude to PCB chief Zaka Ashraf for allowing him to exercise his judgment in forming the selection committee.
He emphasized that, as the chief selector, he had the autonomy to decide on the individuals who would work alongside him.
The chief selector vehemently denied accusations of nepotism and favoritism, asserting that Butt’s appointment was solely based on his cricketing knowledge.
However, in light of the public backlash and concerns about potential negative perceptions, Riaz decided to revoke Butt’s inclusion to avoid any unwarranted associations.
Riaz underscored his commitment to ensuring that his decisions as chief selector would not adversely impact the reputation of the PCB.
He urged a forward-looking approach, emphasizing the need for understanding and moving beyond past controversies in the ever-evolving landscape of cricket administration.
