Chief selector Wahab Riaz of Pakistan cricket confirmed Salman Butt’s removal as selection consultant. He gave this heartbreaking news during a news conference on Saturday, December 2. Butt, Kamran Akmal, as well as Rao Iftikhar Anjum were added to the consultative panel just on Friday.
However, following the uproar surrounding Butt’s appointment to the panel, Wahab made the opposite choice. He went with the option of removing the former left-handed batter.
Wahab Riaz spoke about Salman Butt during the press conference. He said, “Salman Butt isn’t on any PCB panel. For me, he is a good cricketing mind who understands cricket and has been covering domestic cricket for the past 2-3 years. He was made my consultant just to get his opinion, based on which some media houses and people started doing propaganda.”
The former Pakistan pacer said, “As a chief selector, it’s my decision as to who will work with me and whose support I need. But people started discussing nepotism and dosti, due to which I am reverting this decision. I have already spoken to Salman Butt and told him that he cannot be a part of my team.”
Wahab said that because Butt “had a good cricketing mind,” he had previously wished to have him as a consultant. He said that he made the decision alone previously and that he was not under any duress.
“Some people perhaps started running an agenda” : Wahab Riaz
Wahab said that after receiving criticism for selecting Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had to change their mind. Pakistan’s next assignmen against New Zealand, which begins on January 12, will be overseen by the experts.
The Pakistan chief selector said, “I think some people perhaps started running an agenda because they wanted to cast dirt on the cricket board and extract personal benefit out of insulting PCB. Since I am a part of this organization, I didn’t want any such thing to happen, especially due to my decision, so I took it back.”
Fans react as Salman Butt gets removed from Pakistan Cricket team selection committee:
1st December – Salman Butt included in Pakistan's selection committee.
2nd December – Salman Butt removed from Pakistan's selection committee. pic.twitter.com/ul6fWs22GF
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 2, 2023
Common sense prevails. Finally! He should have never been appointed in the first place. There is no place for spot fixers on the cricket board. ??
— Ahmed Raza (@arzanalirizvi) December 2, 2023
On 1 dec. Welcome butt
On 2 dec. Chal hatt butt— ??? ???? (@Bhai_saheb) December 2, 2023
Salman Butt in future: kabhi hum bhi selection committee me hua karte the… pic.twitter.com/cZ0bwk1qfX
— Bolo Yaarrrr (@ShaRo45264) December 2, 2023
Normal things in Pakistan…
World is normal…No one will worry about them.
— Raj Paladi (@IamRajPaladi) December 2, 2023
Salman butt ko kitna zaleel karengey
Jail
Banned
No selection in the team
Ab yeh pic.twitter.com/a1NMPqA3Ke— AP (@AksP009) December 2, 2023
He is literally one day selector ? pic.twitter.com/jk3TvSW7Zq
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) December 2, 2023
Feel for dog Virat??? pic.twitter.com/kI8gGbAfkA
— ?????????? (@rushiii_12) December 2, 2023
