'His allegations are the height of stupidity' - Salman Butt bashes James Faulkner over PSL payment row

The ongoing seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League has been hit with controversy as one pf Quetta Gladiators imports, James Faulkner, withdrew from the tournament in unceremonious circumstances.

The Australian cricketer took to Twitter and announced his withdrawal from the league midway, alleging the Pakistan Cricket Board of not honouring his contractual payment. The 31-year-old has invited massive criticism from various quarters, with former Pakistan national captain, Salman Butt, being the latest to bash Faulkner for his actions.

Butt has gone on record saying that the all-rounder should have been put into two-day police custody as his actions could have put the lives of those around him in danger. The former cricketer feels the PCB should have taken the legal route in dealing with this matter.

“He threw his helmet onto a chandelier and destroyed hotel property. He also misbehaved with people over there. According to me, James Faulkner should have been taken into two-day custody. It could have been life-threatening. There were people standing there and anything untoward could have happened. There should have been a police case on him. His behaviour was below average, to say the least. PCB shouldn’t have let him go scot-free. I feel the cricket board should have handled this matter legally.”

As far as the board’s reaction is concerned, the PCB recently released a statement terming Faulkner’s allegations as false and accused the cricketer of misbehaving with the immigration authorities as well as the hotel staff.

Players in category above him received payments but he did not?: Salman Butt

Butt further elaborated on the allegations terming them as ‘stupid’. He pointed out that players who were drafted into categories higher than the cricketer in question have received their payments. However, Faulkner, who is a gold category player, not receiving his dues does not add up.

“James Faulkner’s misbehavior is unacceptable. His allegations are the height of stupidity. PSL is the only league in the world that pays players 70 per cent of their fees even before they play a match. So many players are part of the league. Platinum and Diamond category players are above him. They have received payments and this person, who is in the Gold category, hasn’t received his?

“He first gave an account from England and got money transferred into that. Then he gave details of some other account and asked the payment to be transferred into that account. There are reports that he wanted double payment.”