A lot has transpired in the last 24 hours for the Pakistan Cricket Board. Former star batter Salman Butt who was appointed as a consultant member to Wahab Riaz has been fired. The move from the PCB comes after receiving a massive backlash. PCB Chief Selector Wahab Riaz was forced to fire Salman Butt after fans were left unhappy given the latter’s role in spot-fixing.
“People were talking all sorts of stuff about me and Salman Butt. Therefore, I am reverting the decision and I have already spoken to Salman Butt and I have told him that he cannot be part of my team,” Riaz told reporters at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
“Some media houses and people are resorting to propaganda. Since we’re working under the chairmanship of Zaka Ashraf in a transparent manner, I am thankful to the board for allowing me to choose the people I want to work with.” Riaz added.
Following the conclusion of the ODI World Cup, quite a few changes have taken place in the PCB. From Babar Azam stepping down from his captaincy to the appointment of a new Chief Selector. Less than 24 hours ago, Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, and Rao Iftikhar Anjum were hired as part of the selection committee for Wahab Riaz.
Back in 2010, Salman Butt was accused of spot-fixing in the Lord’s Test match. Not only was he banned for 10 years from playing cricket, he also had to serve a 30-month prison sentence. For the last 2 years, he has been following domestic cricket and thus was chosen as a favorable candidate in the selection committee. But amidst massive backlash from fans, Wahab Riaz was forced to fire Salman within 24 hours of his hiring.