Salman Butt Hopeful For a Return to the National Side
Published - 11 Dec 2017, 05:03 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:46 PM
Tainted Pakistani opener Salman Butt is hopeful for a comeback to the national side after serving a five-year ban for being involved in spot-fixing in 2010.
Butt made his return to domestic cricket in January 2016. The 33-year old left-handed batsman hopeful to get a second chance after consistently scoring runs in the internal circuit.
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Salman had played 33 Tests, 78 ODI and 24 T20I’s for Pakistan and also led Pakistan in Test cricket. Before being banned for his spot-fixing, Salman was a regular for the Pakistani side and was one of the mainstays for the team at the top of the order.
He had three Test centuries and eight ODI hundreds to his name. Five out of those eight hundred have come against India.
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However, since the return of Amir to the national set-up, Butt has been ambitious to make a comeback and has been working hard for the seven years to rectify the wrongs his had done in the past, and prove a point. He said,
“I want to utilise my form and fitness for Pakistan team. The motivation to play [international cricket] again keeps me going,” he said, adding that he has been working “extremely hard for the past seven years to prove himself.”
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Butt has been receiving a vague response to the possibility of his return to the national side despite his decent performances, and he is disappointed by such a behaviour by the officials,
“I have been performing consistently in domestic cricket. I don’t know why I am still not given a chance.”
He also praised Amir who made a return to the national side after serving the ban and believes he can still improve and become a better bowler,
“Amir is a spearhead of Pakistan bowling. I believe he can be even better than he is right now.”
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