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Salman Butt has been released from prison to return to Pakistan © AFP
Salman Butt, the former Pakistan captain who was convicted of spot-fixing, is travelling back to Pakistan after being released from prison seven months into his 30 month sentence, Butt's lawyers have confirmed.
His release under the government's early release scheme for foreign nationals means Butt has been formally deported from the UK and cannot return for 10 years.
He is due to arrive back in Pakistan later this evening and will begin rebuilding his life and hopes to return to cricket. "Salman Butt has had to endure a great deal of suffering, strain, pressure and humiliation over many months both personally and on behalf of his family," Butt's lawyer, Yasin Patel, said in a statement.
"His return back home will allow Salman to spend time with his family and relatives. He will get to see and hold his son whom he has not seen since his birth in November last year. He can now return to his beloved homeland, start to rebuild his reputation and begin the long process in his efforts to return back to top-level cricket."