Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt can play again for Pakistan: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has cleared that players Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt can still play for Pakistan. The news has come soon after the duo planned to write to ICC trying to know any embargo on their return. The two players wanted a clarification on why they are not being picked in the national side again. They sought clarification if the ICC has put any clause for them to make a national comeback.

Now, the PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan mentioned that there are no such restrictions put by the ICC on their return. The PCB chairman added that the two players will have to prove their form and fitness before being eligible for a national comeback. “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 quoted.

The duo has been playing in the domestic cricket but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refrained from calling them in the national setup. Both Asif and Butt felt that there might be an embargo on them from being eligible for the national side. Hence, they had planned to write to the ICC and clarify on the same note.

Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt were banned from playing international cricket following their involvement in the spot-fixing scandal in 2010. Mohammad Amir, the third member of the tainted trio to be banned, made his comeback to the national side soon. Talking about the same, Mohammad Asif spoke to the PTI. “There have been rumours and speculations that the PCB is reluctant to select us because of some issues with the ICC. We might write to the ICC directly to confirm if this is true. If there is any problem over our selection,” Asif had quoted.

Salman Butt also added to the voice and spoke on the same lines. “I don’t know whether they are true but I will consult my lawyers and I could also write a letter to the ICC just seeking a clarification if there is any reservations over us being considered for international competition again,” Butt had quoted earlier.