The inclusion of former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, who was convicted in a spot-fixing scandal, in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) commentary panel has sparked outrage among franchises.

 

In 2010, during a test played at Lord's, Salman Butt, along with pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, was found guilty of spot-fixing, leading to their imprisonment in London. Following the completion of their bans, only Amir managed to make a comeback to the national team, while Asif relocated to the United States, and Butt is currently heading the Ghani Glass Institute of Cricket in Lahore.

 

According to reports, when PSL franchises learned about Salman Butt's inclusion in the commentary panel, they collectively sent a letter to officials. Without mentioning any names, the letter urged authorities not to include any individual involved in unethical activities, fixing, or someone who has served jail time, as it could damage the league's credibility.

 

However, PSL officials dismissed the concerns, and Butt's name remained on the final commentary panel. 

 

In response to the franchisees' complaints, officials argued that Butt would only be doing Urdu commentary, meaning his involvement wouldn't be widely noticed outside Pakistan.

 

Notably, Salman Butt recently conducted interviews with national cricketers for PCB Digital. Additionally, in late 2023, when chief selector Wahab Riaz appointed him as his advisor, he faced severe backlash, forcing an immediate reversal.

 

It is also worth mentioning that the organization Butt is currently associated with has a representative on the PCB Governing Board, raising further questions about his selection.