Corruption rife in world cricket: Butt’s lawyer

LONDON - A lawyer assisting tainted Pakistani cricketer Salman Butt believes that corruption is “rife” in world cricket and claims to have evidence against players that “will make your hair stand on end”.

Aftab Gul, a member of Butt’s legal team said spot-fixing is rampant in cricket as it is a lot easier than match-fixing.

“Corruption is rife in world cricket,” Gul told Sky Sports News.

“I have so much evidence. I will tell you names which will make your hair stand on end.”

On the spot-fixing menace Gul said : “It has now become spot-fixing, it is much easier.”

Butt, along with countrymen Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, has been charged under the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption laws with spot-fixing during the fourth Test between Pakistan and England at Lord’s in August. Butt was the captain during the series.

The trio filed an appeal against their provision suspension but the ICC rejected this.

The next hearing of the case is scheduled to take place Jan 6-11 in Doha.

Butt remains defiant, said he has not done anything wrong in his cricketing career.

“I would like to say obviously I have not done anything such as this in all my life and all my cricket career.”

When asked about the corruption charge on his team-mates, Butt said: “No, I do not believe it.”

“Now I wish that all three of us get back and play for our country which is our passion because we love cricket and we would love to get back and play for our country,” he said.