Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja recently expressed strong disapproval of the PCB’s decision to appoint Salman Butt as a consultant member to chief selector Muhammad Wasim. Butt was embroiled in a major match-fixing scandal in 2010 that resulted in a 10-year ban. His appointment to a key selection role has ignited fierce debate.
Raja described Butt’s appointment as “insane” and questioned the logic behind the PCB’s controversial move. “What message are you giving to world cricket and to the world? It means that anyone can commit corruption and then comeback without any problems,” he remarked.
Butt’s tainted past has polarized opinion in the cricketing community regarding his rehabilitation and return to a position of influence. While some have highlighted his recent contributions to domestic cricket, Raja and other critics argue his elevation sends the wrong signal and undermines efforts to clean up Pakistan’s image.
Similar concerns have surfaced regarding other recent appointments like Kamran Akmal, who has also been added to the selection committee as a consultant.
The PCB has defended its stance, claiming the consultants will not have independent decision-making authority. However, skepticism remains about Butt’s potential advisory influence given his high-profile history of corruption.
This saga has revived debate around second chances in cricket, transparency in selection, and the need to uphold integrity as Pakistan aims to host more international tours after years in exile. The coming months will indicate whether this raging controversy causes any tangible impact on team selections.
