Salman Butt's career will forever be associated with the events at Lord's in August 2010, when - as Pakistan captain - he was implicated along with his new-ball bowlers Mohammad Asif and Amir in a betting scam involving the deliberate bowling of no-balls. A sting instigated by the News of the World led to a ten-year ban by the ICC, before on November 1, he was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Until his downfall, Butt drew comparisons with the legendary Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar, because he is left-handed and possessed of some supple wrists, His drives and cuts through the arc between extra cover and backward point were inevitably flicked, often scooped and it was a high-scoring region. He didn't mind pulling either and off his toes, he was efficient rather than whippy as Anwar was. Further, like Anwar, Butt's footwork didn't really hold him back. But in attitude and temperament Butt was more Anwar's long-time partner, Aamir Sohail.
