Cricket 'in my veins and blood' - Butt

[Afgun]

Salman Butt presented his case to CAS and hopes to return to cricket © Getty Images







Salman Butt said he was "grateful" to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for hearing the appeal against his ICC bans and retained hope that he could return to playing the sport that "runs through me in veins and my blood."

Butt's hearing in Switzerland followed that of his former team-mate Mohammad Asif yesterday and the pair will now have to wait to hear that outcome as to whether their bans - 10 years for Butt and seven for Asif with suspended periods - will be lifted or reduced. A decision is expected in three weeks but could take longer. CAS hearings are held in private.

"I am grateful to the CAS that they have allowed me this opportunity to appeal this sentence," Butt said in a statement released after a day-long hearing. "Since September 2010, until now, I have not been able to play any meaningful game of cricket: to coach or to even be involved in the administration of the game.
"I love cricket: it is something that runs through me in my veins and my blood. I await the decision of the CAS. It means so much to me. I truly pray that they can change it for me by reducing the sentence."
Butt's lawyers added in a statement: "We are certain that the Panel will consider our legal submissions and the material facts of this case carefully when reaching their verdict. There is only one outcome that can be positive for Salman and us - he must be allowed to play cricket now. We can then say that justice has truly been served."

Butt, Asif and Mohammad Amir - who is not contesting his ban - were exposed by a News of the World sting in 2010 over bowling deliberate no-balls in the Lord's Test against England. The trio were also jailed after a criminal trial in the UK.

[Karachi]

lol, more like it is in his butt

[Shehbaz Khan]

Salman Butt should stay at home. I personally don't think that Pakistan should allow any of the three players (Salman, Asif, Amir) to play with a green shirt in the future. A disgrace to the game and the nation.

Amir presents himself as he was a baby and didn't know where the money come from.

[Karachi]

^ I think Amir should be given a chance in 2-3 years time, provided he is disciplined properly. I think he came from a poor family background and maybe he was very naive. As for Salman Butt he is a total disgrace, coming from a wealthy/educated family, no one suspected he would do such a thing, he should have faced jail in Pakistan also.

[Shehbaz Khan]

^ Karachi, so was the case of M. Asif he belonged to a poor family as well and so is the case of Junaid Khan. Amir may have belonged to a poor family but he should have been happy with what he was getting if he was that poor. In his dreams would have he thought about earning more than 100,000 a month! with extra bonuses and rewards!

According to me Pakistan must make an example out of them for the rest of the players.

[Karachi]

^ true, but it was Salman Butt who told him to do that, since he has the captain at the time. Salman Butt is the biggest one at fault here. Asif should also be punished, since he was already playing for 5-6 years before the incident happened, he should have known better

[Shehbaz Khan]

So you now think that Amir was a baby and Salman Butt was feeding him? Amir knew what was he taking the money for! Getting the point .. That's why to me he is as much guilty as Salman Butt himself.