Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt has landed in yet another controversy after giving a telephonic interview to a TV show which had banned former captain Salman Butt as a panelist.
Last night, Butt came on the telephone line in a show that featured Salman Butt, who has been banned for 10 years for being involved in spot-fixing, and national selector Mohammad Illyas, a target of some scathing attacks by sacked ODI captain Shahid Afridi. Butt also had some harsh words for former captain Wasim Akram advising him concentrate on his commentary assignments in India. Asked about Wasim's advice to the board and Afridi to sit sort out the differences and his insistence that the board explain the reasons for removing Afridi as captain, Butt said that it would be better if he didn't try to interfere in Pakistan's cricket affairs. "He should look at his past and record and then give such statements. I don't want to say anything here but Wasim would be better off doing commentary in India," he said. Illyas was also very critical of Afridi and used some offensive language against the all-rounder, who has quit international cricket and is on war path with the PCB over his sacking as ODI captain. "I don't think the board should have allowed Illyas to appear on a show with Salman Butt who is banned for spot fixing and don't forget Illyas is a paid selector," a senior member of the Karachi City Cricket Association said. The KCCA secretary Ejaz Farooqi made it clear it was also ethically wrong for Butt to take part in a show involving a former captain banned for corruption. Another former player noted that while the board had show caused Afridi for violating the code of conduct, the appearance of Illyas on the show and his offensive language were also to be taken note of. PTI