PCB boss Butt finally retracts ‘England match throwing’ comments

LONDON - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt has withdrawn his claim that the English players had thrown the third one-day international at the Oval for an “enormous” amount of cash.

“I wish personally and on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board to withdraw the comments,” the BBC quoted Butt, as saying.

“I never intended to question the behaviour and integrity of the England players nor the ECB,” he added.

Although his statement stopped short of the “full and unreserved apology” demanded by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Professional Cricketers’ Association, Butt said he had not anticipated how his comments would be received.

“It is regrettable that there was a misunderstanding arising from my comment,” said Butt, adding, “I deeply and sincerely regret that my statements have been interpreted to cast doubt upon the good names of the England players and the ECB.”

The ECB said that it, and the England players, “warmly welcome” the statement, and the matter is now closed.

Butt’s retraction came after he flew to London to discuss with his lawyers the course of action over the ECB’s warning to begin defamation proceedings against the PCB, the website said.

Earlier, in a TV interview, Butt had claimed that “there is loud and clear talk in bookie circles that some English players were paid enormous amounts of money to lose” the third ODI match played against Pakistan at The Oval on September 17.

In response, the ECB had demanded a ‘full and unreserved apology’ as well as financial compensation for the damages caused, and warned “if a satisfactory response was not received, legal proceedings will be commenced against him without further notice.” (ANI)