Karachi: Pakistan’s national cricket coach Waqar Younis has backed an international comeback for convicted spot-fixers Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif , saying that they should not be treated any differently from the rehabilitated Muhammad Aamir.
“The way I see it if Butt and Asif perform well in their comeback in domestic cricket why can’t they be considered for a second chance to play international cricket? All the three did the same wrong and also underwent the same punishment so why should they be treated differently,” Waqar told ‘Geo News’.
Butt scored a hundred in his first competitive match in five and half years on Sunday in the national one-day championship while Asif took two wickets to leave an impact on the same day Aamir left with the national team for New Zealand.
Waqar’s support for Butt and Asif to be treated equally as Aamir is in contrast to recent statements of Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan and national T20 captain Shahid Afridi who have said the duo’s case differs from Aamir and it will not be easy for them to make a comeback. “I think Butt and Asif deserve same chance as Aamir and if they show form and fitness, why not consider them for selection?” Waqar said.
