Salman Butt dissatisfied over non selection in Pakistan squad

Salman Butt’s career went into the doldrums following the shambolic spot-fixing scandal during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010. The incident panned out in the opening Test at the Lord’s Cricket Ground when ‘News of the World’, a defunct English newspaper blamed him along with Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif for marring the sanctity of the game.

The accusations were later proved correct and he was slapped with a suspension which ended on September 13, 2015. However, Butt has been straining to stake his claim back for the team ever since. Previously, Pakistan announced a 16-member squad for their tour of the United Kingdom (UK). However, he didn’t find a spot and recently, he expressed his despair while hoping for resurrecting his already tarnished career.

“I am not sure what is stopping him”- Butt on Inzamam

“There is never any point in indulging in what-if’s, but I suppose it would have been great if I had been selected for the Test squad as that would have provided me with an opportunity to not only get back into international cricket but also perform well in England.

It could have served as an opportunity for redemption in front of fans and critics in a place where things originally went so horribly wrong for me in 2010,” Salman Butt was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

The national team recently beat Ireland by five wickets in the latter’s maiden Test in Dublin. The team captained by Sarfraz Ahmed will now cross swords with England in a two-match Test series, which starts on May 24 at Lord’s. The tainted cricketer also pledged to not give up on his ambition of playing for Pakistan and stage a comeback in the future.

“I am trying my best to make sure I remain in contention for a place in the Pakistan side. To this end, I am training hard and putting in the effort and aiming to do well in domestic cricket in the coming season.

“Even Pakistan’s Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq had told me that he expected me to be selected for Pakistan, but I am not sure what is stopping him from doing that. Ultimately, one has to leave these things to the Almighty and hope and pray that I am able to achieve my goal of returning to play for Pakistan once again,” the 33-year old left-handed batsman added.

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