Salman Butt’s international return would make Mike Hussey uncomfortable

Pakistan cricket is in a fix at the moment, three of their top players Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were involved in a spot-fixing scandal and banned for 5 years by the International Cricket Council (ICC). While Amir has already made his return to international cricket Butt and Asif have put up some impressive performances in domestic cricket. The thought of having the tainted former Pakistan skipper back in the international fold doesn’t please Mike Hussey at all.

He agreed that he served the ban he was handed over for his act but then again it was Butt who played the key role in getting his bowlers to spot-fix as well. “If I am being honest, it doesn’t sit well with me,” Hussey told Fox Sports TV. “Some would argue he has done his time and been allowed back in, much like Mohammad Amir.

Amir at the time of the incident in 2010 was just 17-year-old and had made an entry into international cricket with a bang. He was young and naïve and the former Australian batsman thinks he deserved another chance. “But you’ve got to remember Amir was a 17-year-old kid being directed by Salman Butt to do the wrong thing. I have a bit more sympathy for Amir. But Salman Butt, it doesn’t sit well to have him back in international cricket.”

Speaking about this, the former Aussie paceman Ryan Harris quoted saying, “I’m not a big fan of it. I know Mohammad Amir is playing here, I’m fifty-fifty on that. I obviously don’t think he should be here, but he was 17 years old – whether that was an excuse, I’m still trying to work.”

“But Salman Butt, the captain who told his players to go out and cheat, there’s no room for that in the game. I’m not sure how the opposition players would take playing against him for one, but definitely not. I know he’s done the crime, done the time. I still think that was a pretty lenient time, five years.” said Harris.

Butt who was leading the WAPDA team in Pakistan’s premier domestic first-class tournament scored twin centuries in both innings of the final and led his team from the front to title victory. He scored 741 runs in 10 matches that included four centuries.

After the final was quoted by Pakistani media as saying, “I hope the bad days are over,”

“I have gone through difficult times but my wife, my family and friends supported me.

“I have knocked the door (of international cricket) very hard and hope this will pave my way for return to (the) Pakistan team.

“I have the capacity but that is something the selectors have to tell and decide.”

After the tour of Australia, Pakistan will travel to West Indies in March for a Test series and there are no real signs from the PCB that he will be considered for selection.