It's Insane: Ramiz Raja Slams PCB For Appointing Salman Butt As Selection Consultant

Former Pakistan batsman Ramiz Raja has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for appointing tainted former cricketer Salman Butt as a consultant to chief selector Wahab Riaz. The PCB, on Friday (December 1), appointed three former cricketers – Kamran Akmal, Rao Iftikhar Anjum and Salman Butt – as the consultant members.

The cricket board also stated that the former cricketers have assumed their responsibilities in the selection panel with immediate effect. Their first assignment as consultant members to the chief selector will be the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. After the conclusion of the Test series in Australia that gets underway this month, Pakistan will visit New Zealand next month for the T20Is.

Salman Butt’s appointment, however, has not gone down well with many. The former Pakistan captain was one of the three Pakistan cricketers who were involved in the infamous 2010 spot-fixing scandal in England. He was stripped of the captaincy and was banned for 10 years by the ICC. He was also jailed in England. In 2015, the ban was finally lifted on him and he returned to action in Pakistan’s domestic circuit.

Ramiz Raja slams Salman Butt’s appointment:

Ramiz Raja is not at all impressed with PCB’s decision to rope in Salman Butt and made his feelings clear. Talking to Cricbuzz, the former PCB chief called the decision insane as he also expressed his reservation over the appointment of Kamran Akmal in the committee. Akmal had supported his younger brother and out-of-favour Pakistan cricketer Umar who was banned by the PCB for not reporting a corruption approach.

“It’s insane to have a selection committee consisting of a member whose decision can be termed as a display of filial affection or non-affection and another who was locked up for match fixing,” Ramiz Raja said.

As of now, Pakistan are currently preparing for the three-match Test series in Australia. The series will begin on December 14 in Perth. It will be their first series under new captain Shan Masood.