Cricket

'le PCB- Abhi to hume aur Zaleel hona hai' - Fans react as Pakistan Cricket Board removes Salman Butt from selection panel after backlash

After massive outrage from fans and former cricketers, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has removed Salman Butt from the national selection panel.

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Mathew K
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Salman Butt

Salman Butt (Source: Twitter)

After massive outrage from fans and former cricketers, the Pakistan Cricket Board has removed Salman Butt from the national selection panel. He was appointed as a consultant to Chief Selector Wahab Riaz a few days ago. However, a day after his appointment, PCB decided to step back.

"Salman Butt isn't on any PCB panel. For me, he is a good cricketer 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,” Wahab said in a press conference.

"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," he added. It's worth noting that along with Butt Riaz, Kamran Akmal and Rao Ifthikhar Anjum were appointed to the panel.

"Some people started an agenda," says Wahab Riaz

further speaking about the backlash over his decision. He 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 organisation, I didn't want any such thing to happen, especially due to my decision, so I took it back."

It's worth noting that these consultants will start working immediately. They will have to pick the team for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. The series will start after the Test series against Australia on January 12. It's worth noting that the Shan Masood-led team has reached Australia for the upcoming test series.

Here is how fans react to PCB's decision: 

PCB Salman Butt wahab riaz