The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, and Rao Iftikhar Anjum Friday, three former cricket players, as “consultant members”.
Following their appointment, the three have assumed responsibility for their roles in the board’s selection panel. They will answer to PCB Chief Selector Wahab Riaz.
“The impending five-match Twenty20 International series against New Zealand, which is scheduled to begin on January 12, 2024, after the conclusion of the Test tour to Australia, is their first assignment as consultant members to the chief selector. The PCB stated that the consultant members can be given extra responsibilities, like running skills camps, while they’re not doing selection work.
A 15-year cricket career spanning 53 Tests, 157 ODIs, and 58 T20Is was played by Akmal. Rao Iftikhar participated in two T20Is, 62 ODIs, and a Test between 2004 and 2010. Salman Butt, a former captain of the Test team, played for Pakistan in 24 T20Is, 78 ODIs, and 33 Tests.
Social media users took issue with the PCB’s appointment of former captain Butt as a consultant.
Because of the previous captain’s involvement in the 2010 spot-fixing controversy, many fans were against the appointment.
Several users commented on the appointment as follows:
Lahore City Cricket Association Selection Committee or Model Town Cricket Selection Committee or Pakistan’s National Selection Committee?
I wonder there were not even a single ex- eligible Test player(s) in rest of the Punjab, Sind, Balochistan, KPK?
Oh there is one Federal… pic.twitter.com/Bz4TGKAt92— Dr. Nauman Niaz (@DrNaumanNiaz) December 1, 2023
Worth pointing out that Butt has served his time and Wahab and Akmal themselves were only ever questioned in 2010 but just lookin like a wow on optics. (Also Hafeez v publicly expressed unhappiness with Amir return so not sure how he feels about this) pic.twitter.com/KfGVDAk45Q
— Osman Samiuddin (@OsmanSamiuddin) December 1, 2023
My reaction after seeing #SalmanButt on the panel! https://t.co/IdB4MjXira pic.twitter.com/pEg8g4CQT8
— Anees Hanif (@anees_avis) December 1, 2023
Shame on PCB for appointing a spot fixer Salman Butt as consultant in the PCB selection committee. Whenever I think PCB can’t stoop any lower, they always prove me wrong.
— Saith Abdullah (@SaithAbdullah99) December 1, 2023
Salman Butt’s eloquence makes people forget what he did to this country and to young players, while in a position of power. Don’t be naive please, it’s a disgrace that he gets any opportunities in cricket at all
— eman (@exharrie) December 1, 2023
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.