Salman Butt REMOVED as selection consultant role by Wahab Riaz after backlash  

Wahab Riaz said people should move on from Salman Butt's past, but said his removal was his decision.

Salman Butt REMOVED as selection consultant role by Wahab Riaz after backlash  

Salman Butt removed from his role as a consultant for the selector (Image via ESPN)

Salman Butt, the former Pakistan captain, was recently hired by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to be part of the consulting panel that would assist Wahab Riaz in the selection of the Pakistan team. Despite Riaz saying Butt has a “good cricketing mind,” the PCB has decided to remove him from his role. 

Butt was caught in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010 while captaining the Pakistan team, along with Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif. In 2011, he was banned from cricket for 10 years and never played for Pakistan after that. 

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Due to his history, many people opposed his appointment, with Ramiz Raja even calling out the PCB for hiring a person who was locked up for fixing. After the backlash, Riaz held a press conference regarding Butt where he announced he was being removed. 

According to reports, many people in the PCB were not comfortable with the appointment. Some officials threatened to resign if Butt stayed with his role due to his past. Due to this criticism, Riaz organized the press conference.

Wahab Riaz defends Salman Butt’s past 

In the press conference, Wahab Riaz defended Salman Butt’s past, saying people should move on. He further said it was his decision to hire Butt, not the PCB’s. His exclusion was also Riaz’s call, not the PCBs. The only reason he was removing Butt was because of people claiming his appointment was because of “nepotism” and “dosti (friendship)”.

Wahab Riaz
Wahab Riaz defended Salman Butt’s past (Image via X)
I think people should move on. Whatever happened was some time ago, and he (Salman Butt) served his punishment. For me, he is a good cricketing mind, and that's why I wanted him as a consultant. There is no pressure on me – it was my decision, and I am the one who has reverted this decision as well.
Wahab Riaz in a press conference.

Riaz’s first assignment as selector will come for Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand, where the two teams will play 5 T20Is. Along with Butt, Kamran Akmal and Rao Iftikhar Anjum were hired. 

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