LAHORE – Suspended Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir have expressed confidence that they would play for their country after clearing their names in make-or-break International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption tribunal in Doha.
The pair, along with fast bowler Mohammad Asif, will face the hearing on Thursday on charges of spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England last year.
It is alleged that they conspired in the bowling of deliberate no-balls – claims they all deny.
Butt said that he was desperate to play top-level cricket again, and stressed that the scandal had taught him some harsh lessons.
“I have always played the game for the love of it and have never been involved in any wrongdoing,” Butt added.
“I am confident that I will soon be playing for my country. I have been practising all through this difficult phase of my life so that whenever I am cleared I am able to play.”
“This phase has taught me a lot of lessons and I hope I will learn from them,” he added.
Meanwhile, Amir said that he was hopeful of a positive outcome. “This is the toughest period of my life, but I am confident that it will be over and I will be playing for Pakistan soon,” Amir said.
“I have always played five-day Test matches, but the upcoming hearing in Doha would not only be the longest but the toughest test of my career. I am hopeful that like the on-field matches, I would be able to perform well in this test (hearing) too,” he added.
The trio was provisionally suspended by the ICC in October, with the governing body’s code of conduct carrying a minimum five-year ban if corruption charges are proved.
The maximum punishment is a life ban from the game.
