The family of disgraced former captain Salman Butt was so grief-stricken Friday over his 30-month sentence for corruption in Britain that it postponed his sister’s wedding. The 27-year-old bowler who once delighted millions of Pakistanis with his blistering talent woke up in a British prison with his name tarnished at home and abroad, convicted over cricket’s worst fixing scandal in more than 10 years.
Zulfiqar Butt made a sensational disclosure in a private TV channel discussion by accusing that convicted bookie/match fixer Mazhar Majeed had friendship with former captain Shahid Afridi and his son (Salman Butt) has been trapped into spot fixing scandal by a conspiracy.
He said that Mazhar used to stay at Afridi’s residence but Iqbal Afridi, Shahid Afridi’s brother, termed the allegations completely baseless. Zulfiqar further alleged that later on Afridi and Mazhar Majeed had fought over some financial matters and their friendship came to an end.
He alleged that no one was taking this into consideration. He challenged Afridi to come on a TV channel and said he would debate it with Afridi who he alleged had closed ties with Mazhar Majeed. It is worth a mention that in this scandal Mazahr has been saying that he tried to trap Afridi many times but he failed to do so. Similarly, Afridi is on record saying that he had informed the PCB officials of the suspicious activities of Mazhar Majeed. Some media reports also quoted Afridi as saying that Mazhar tried to contact him many times but he snubbed him.
When this scribe tried to seek Afridi’s re-action to these allegations his phone was off. Then an attempt was made on Afridi’s residence number where Shoaib Afridi picked the phone. This scribe then phoned Shahid’s elder brother Iqbal Afridi who termed the allegations as rubbish.
Iqbal challenged Zulfiqar Ali Butt saying he should present the passport of Mazhar Majeed to prove when Majeed visited Pakistan. Iqbal Afridi further said first Zulfiqar Ali Butt has to establish whether Majeed ever traveled to Karachi. The scandal it seems has opened a new Pandora box and more allegations and counter allegations are expected to come on surface.
Meanwhile, Butt’s father said his lawyers would file an appeal in London on Friday, but that he was ready to die if his son’s guilt is proven.
Unlike the 19-year-old Mohammad Aamer, whom the judge said he corrupted, Butt grew up in relative luxury, the eldest of three children born to Zulfikar Ali Butt, who runs a farming business. “Our own friends conspired against us.” Zulfiqar did not explain the conspiracy any further but insisted the Butt family is not wealthy. “You can check our bank balance. We weren’t even able to build our own house,” Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying.
Butt’s sister Khadija added: “His mistake was to be at the wrong place with the wrong people. This is his only mistake.”
Zulfiqar Butt said his son’s conviction was a “big tragedy” for the family and that as a result, he had been forced to postpone his 22-year-old dentistry student daughter’s impending nuptials. “She was scheduled to marry in Lahore this month, but it has been postponed because the family is in a state of shock,” he said. “Her in-laws understand our grief,” he added. Butt’s sisters on Thursday alleged that their brother had been made a scapegoat for a wider conspiracy and was innocent. “If Salman’s involvement is proved and evidence is provided that he took money, I tell the nation that my son Salman and I are ready to be hanged publicly,” Zulfikar said.
“I have brought up my children never to do such a thing.” Salman was convicted of conspiring to accept corrupt payments and cheat at gambling, and was fined £30,937 ($49,560) in addition to his jail term.
The judge called him the “orchestrator” and that given his “leadership status”, he was “more culpable” than the other two bowlers also sentenced.
But Zulfikar described his son as a “practising Muslim who prays five times a day” and said he was in Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage when Salman telephoned to say that he had been charged after the Lord’s Test against England in 2010.
“I immediately asked him: Tell me on oath how much are you involved in this scam? He swore that he was not involved. “My son does not tell lies. He is very kind and helpful. He never fought with anyone. He is a good natured person. “He has been trapped in a controversy just to malign the game of cricket and Pakistan. Two other bowlers were also involved because they performed well. The assets of our national team have been sent to jail under a conspiracy.” The father said no one from the Pakistan Cricket Board had contacted the family and nor had anyone expressed sympathy.
