Aiming redemption, tainted Butt meets PCB officials

Karachi: In a bid to start his rehabilitation under the International Cricket Council`s anti-corruption laws, Pakistan`s banned former captain Salman Butt has met senior officials of the PCB.

Butt met PCB officials at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore after ICC chief executive Dave Richardson urged him and Muhammad Asif -- both banned for spot-fixing -- to come clean and admit their involvement in corruption. Butt, Asif and Muhammad Aamer were first banned by the anti-corruption tribunal of the ICC in February, 2011 after they were first suspended in September, 2010 on the tour to England by the ICC for their involvement in spot-fixing in the fourth Test played at Lords. The trio was later also convicted on corruption charges by a crown court and given different jail terms. This week, the International Court of Arbitration also dismissed the appeals of Butt and Asif against their bans. Aamer didn`t appeal his punishment. Sources in the board said Butt met with the PCB officials to inform them he was ready to undergo rehabilitation and attend anti-corruption education programs that is mandatory for him to ensure his five-year ban is not extended. "Butt has conveyed to the board officials that he knows what he did was wrong and that he is now ready to redeem himself by undergoing a rehabilitation program," one source disclosed. Interestingly, Richardson also called on Butt and Asif to come clean and cooperate with the Anti Corruption and Security Unit of the ICC in uncovering more details about the spot-fixing scandal. This is the first time that Butt has met PCB officials after being banned by the ICC although Aamer has done this before him and already started a rehabilitation program. PTI