Salman Butt (L) and Mohammad Asif (R) returned to competitive cricket after serving bans for their involvement in spot-fixing in the UK. “So I don’t see having different conditions for them”, he said.
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He told journalists in Pakistan after the match: “This is the start and I hope it is the new beginning”.
The Pakistani and New Zealand teams will meet on 15 January in the first T20 of the three match series and Amir will probably play that, as he will accompany Wahab Riaz in the pace attack and will face the challenge of in-form New Zealand batsmen.
“Without doubt, Amir’s return will strengthen Pakistan’s bowling and competition will grow in the bowling contingent and others’ performances will also get better, so I wish him the best”. I did a lot of work to keep myself in [the] best shape.
Former Test captain and opening batsman Salman Butt and pacer Asif had to travel almost 160 kilometres from Karachi to Hyderabad to play in their first proper match in five years as they turned out for their department, Water and Power Development Authority. “Since I wasn’t allowed to play cricket for registered clubs, I had been training at unregistered facilities and the result is there”. “I just want a chance to show everyone I can still play top-flight cricket”, he said.
Legspinning all-rounder Todd Astle is in line for a limited overs debut after being named in New Zealand’s 13-man squad for a World Twenty20 warmup series against Pakistan. He hoped that he would perform consistently to make global return. The ICC lifted their sanctions on Butt and Asif in September previous year, making them eligible for national and global matches.
Butt also thanked former Pakistan players, including Waqar Younis, the current coach, for his support, and credited Mohammad Yousuf with helping him with his technique in the nets.
Earlier the trio was included in Pakistan’s first-class test tournament Qauid-e-Azam Trophy but Muhammad Asif and Salman Butt were not included in the playing eleven even for a single game.
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“There will be negative opinions as well and with respect to them I will not reply to them”.
