The ex-skipper has vowed to return to cricket after being banned for a decade for spot-fixing.
Disgraced former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has announced he will return to cricket when his 10-year ban for spot-fixing ends.
Butt was found guilty of cheating during a Test match against England in 2010, with the 28-year-old being axed from the game for a decade in 2011 – although five years is suspended.
The ex-skipper and fellow banned player Mohammad Asif appealed their punishments at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday, but had their pleas rejected.
Yet despite this setback Butt has vowed to return to cricket when his five-year suspended period starts in a little over two years.
“I have already served two years and eight months and after another two years and four months I can still play,” the Pakistani was quoted on BBC Sport.
“I will be 30 when I serve the ban in two years’ time so I don’t find any reason not to play cricket.”
Butt, Asif and Mohammad Amir were discovered to be involved in spot-fixing by a sting from now defunct British newspaper the News of the World.
The trio were found to have received money from a illegal bookmakers to deliberately bowl no-balls and as captain and most senior of the three, Butt was handed the heftiest ban.
Asif will be able to return to the sport at the same time as his former skipper, with the bowler serving a seven year ban with two years suspended.
Butt scored 1,189 runs in 33 Test matches for Pakistan, but whether he will be welcomed back to the side after this scandal remains to be seen – although for the player his intentions are clear.
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