Shahid Afridi blocked my return to Pak Team: Salman Butt
Tainted Pakistani cricketer Salman Butt has claimed that former skipper Shahid Afridi blocked his return to the national team for the 2016 World T20. This happened after Butt's five-year ban in relation to the 2010 spot-fixing scandal got over. Butt's ban had expired in 2015, but according to him, Afridi played a part for hindering his comeback. Here's more.
I was called to the NCA by Waqar: Butt
Butt told GTV News that he was ready to play for Pakistan. "I was called to the NCA (National Cricket Academy) by head coach Waqar Younis and batting coach, Grant Flower, and they took me to the nets and checked my fitness." Butt added, "Waqar bhai asked me if I was mentally ready to play for Pakistan again and I said, yes very much."
'I don't know what prompted him to do this'
The former Pakistani cricketer doesn't know the exact reason that prompted Afridi to stop his return. "I don't know what prompted him to do this but I didn't go to him or speak about it. I didn't feel it was right. But what I know is that Waqar and Flower told me I was playing the World Cup and than Afridi resisted," Butt said.
Why was Butt banned?
Butt and former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif saw their respective ban come to an end on September 1, 2015. The two players along with Mohammad Amir were banned in 2011 over a spot-fixing case. A British tabloid had reported in 2010 that agent Mazhar Majeed had given the cricketers money to bowl deliberate no-balls in a Test match against England.
Butt was close to making a return in 2017
The player was close to making a return in early 2017 for the national team, but things didn't go his way. He was heartbroken after not being selected in the team.
