PCB fires Salman Butt after backlash. In a swift and unexpected turn of events, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) found itself retracting a recent decision to appoint former cricketer Salman Butt as a “consultant member” to chief selector Wahab Riaz.
The move, which transpired within a 24-hour timeframe, came in response to widespread criticism from the cricketing community and fans.
The decision to include Butt, alongside Kamran Akmal and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, as members of the selection committee led by Riaz raised eyebrows, primarily due to Butt’s notorious involvement in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.
The former captain had faced legal consequences, receiving a 30-month prison sentence and a 10-year playing ban for his role in orchestrating deliberate no-balls during a Test match against England at Lord’s.
Social media platforms quickly became a forum for discontent, with fans expressing their disapproval of Butt’s appointment.
Notable figures in cricket, including Melbourne hero Sarfraz Nawaz, voiced concerns that such decisions could potentially revisit the dark days of rampant match-fixing in the national cricketing landscape.
In response to the mounting public outcry, Wahab Riaz, the chief selector, held a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, revealing that the decision to bring Butt on board was solely his own.
However, faced with what he termed as “propaganda” and negative public sentiment, Riaz swiftly reversed the decision. He clarified that there was no external pressure influencing the move and that he had already communicated the reversal to Salman Butt.
Attempting to justify the initial appointment, Riaz drew parallels with Indian cricket, pointing to instances where players like Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja have seamlessly transitioned into various roles despite their own past controversies.
Riaz emphasized that the decision to revoke Butt’s appointment was voluntary and aimed at maintaining transparency within the organization.
Amidst the controversy, Riaz confirmed another appointment to the selection committee, welcoming Test batter Asad Shafiq. Shafiq is set to assist the team during the upcoming New Zealand T20I series, marking his initial assignment in this capacity.
However, the timeline aligns with his participation in the Sindh Premier League (SPL) scheduled for the same period.
This recent upheaval comes against the backdrop of broader changes within the PCB, triggered by Pakistan’s lackluster performance in the 2023 World Cup.
The resignation of captain Babar Azam prompted a series of leadership shifts, with Shan Masood and Shaheen Afridi assuming captaincy roles in Test and T20I formats, respectively.
Mohammad Hafeez was appointed as the team’s director, while Riaz took on the crucial role of chief selector. Additional appointments included Sohail Tanveer as the head of the junior selection committee and Mohammad Yousuf as the coach of Pakistan’s U19 team.
As PCB fires Salman Butt after backlash, the rapid succession of changes underscores the PCB’s commitment to revitalizing the team in the wake of recent challenges.
