Ramiz Raja not impressed with Salman Butt’s possible national comeback

After spending close to 6 years in the cold, Salman Butt was finally allowed to play in the domestic circuit. He responded by scoring loads of runs across formats to stake a claim in the national side. Butt was on the verge of getting selected in the Pakistan side earlier this year but the spot-fixing scandals emerging out of the PSL delayed his return, though he had nothing to do with any of it.

Chief selector Inzamam Ul Haq hinted at a possible comeback for the opener soon but wanted to test him with the A team first. The former Pakistan captain was impressed with the form shown by Butt despite a 5-year exile from top-flight cricket.

“He is playing very well after his comeback and we are considering him. He was there in our high-performance camp and he was exceptional. It’s fantastic to see that a player has been out for five years but still maintained a high standard of fitness,” Inzamam was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Ramiz disconsolate on the prospect

Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja, however, was not impressed with the leniency shown by the PCB on players who were involved in corruption. The former batsman, who is now a renowned commentator all around the world, said that such players should never be given a first chance to set an example for all. Recently, the PCB pulled up 6 players who were responsible for spot-fixing in the PSL which included a few Test cricketers. The likes of Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan have been handed a 5-year ban from cricket while Mohammad Irfan got away with just a year-long ban.

Ramiz took to Twitter to express his views on corruption in cricket and called Salman Butt a ‘rouge’.

Going in circles in cricket corruption- PSL guilty players fined leniently while rogue Salman Butt is green lighted to play for Pak again ??

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) September 23, 2017

Ramiz reiterated that tainted cricketers must not be allowed their way back for cheating with their own country. “My take on tainted cricketers remains the same over the years. We have suffered a lot in their hands and they don’t need any mercy, they don’t need any second chance,” Raja was quoted as saying by Sport 360.

“I can only raise my voice and I have got a certain opinion and one which I will stick by with my principle. When you play for your country, it’s an honour. There should be 11 people who are looking to win you the match. Suddenly you find that eight of them were trying desperately to win you a match and three who were conspiring to lose you the game. That experience can only be felt by a player who is actually part of such a scenario,” he added.

Pakistan had to find its feet after 2010 scandal

The episode of 2010 at the Lord’s was one of the darkest chapters in Pakistan cricket. It was the inspirational leadership of Misbah coupled with tremendous support from senior statesman Younis Khan that Pakistan managed to come out of the doldrums. Ramiz credited Misbah for his services and stressed on the significance of setting an example.

“Pakistan had to regain its status after being thrown into this situation. Under Misbah they have now resurfaced and it was a tremendous achievement by Misbah and his men. For me, two and half years of cricket jail-term is nothing. So in my book, all these players should not be given another chance,” Raja opined.

Butt will more or less make an international return very soon. Mohammad Amir, who was also involved in the scandal, has already made an international comeback in all forms of the game. PCB must adopt strenuous measures in order to curb such instances in cricket.