In what can be described as an openly contentious development within Pakistan cricket, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has expressed his stern disapproval of the recent appointments made by the PCB, particularly calling out the induction of Salman Butt, a player with a previous match-fixing conviction, as a consultant to chief selector Wahab Riaz. Raja’s displeasure also extends to the appointment of Kamran Akmal, and, to a lesser extent, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, citing potential issues of bias and the dark shadow of match-fixing that still lurks around the chapter of Butt’s career.
During an announcement made on December 1, the PCB revealed the immediate assumption of duties by the newly appointed trio to the selection panel. Ramiz Raja, known for his outspoken stance on corruption in cricket, found little to hide his dismay. He was quoted by Cricbuzz making a bold statement, “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.”
Indeed, Ramiz Raja’s tenure as PCB chairman was characterized by his rigid stance against those who have tarnished the image of the sport through match and spot-fixing scandals. This stand was equally evident when he criticized PCB’s earlier decision to allow fast bowler Mohammad Amir back into the national fold after serving a ban for his involvement in spot-fixing.
Providing some context to the severity of Raja’s critique, it was the infamous 2010 spot-fixing incident during Pakistan’s tour of England that led to Butt, along with Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, being met with heavy sanctions by the International Cricket Council (ICC). As the Test captain at the time, Butt faced a lengthy 10-year ban and even served time behind bars in the United Kingdom for his part in the scandal.
Despite the indisputions and consequences faced, Butt returned to playing domestic cricket post his ban, but never donned the Pakistani colors again. His cricketing journey includes playing 33 Tests, 78 ODIs, and 33 T20Is, during which he scored a total of 5209 international runs. Currently, a faction within Pakistani cricket circles holds the belief that Butt has paid the price for his past actions and should be offered chances for rehabilitation and reintegration into the sport, including roles that contribute to the game’s development.
The aforementioned selection committee, with the addition of Butt, Akmal, and Anjum, is now tasked with determining the future course of Pakistani cricket as it pertains to player selection. Their decisions are expected to be pivotal as the country’s cricket enters a critical phase with the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 and numerous bilateral series on the horizon.
While some view appointments such as these as an opportunity for redemption and a chance to draw from the experience, albeit mired in controversy, of former players, others, like Ramiz Raja, see it as a step backward in a sport still fighting the demons of corruption. As this appointment ripples through the cricketing world, the discussion it has incited about second chances, accountability, and the message it sends to current and future cricketing talent is undeniably critical. Whatever side of the fence one might sit on regarding this issue, it signifies that cricket, much like the world around it, grapples with the complex nature of moral judgments and the pathways to redemption.