Islamabad: Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, who was released this month from jail in England, is planning to appeal for an open trial against him in Pakistan, and said he was denied justice in the spot-fixing case in England.
The 27-year-old along with team mates Mohammed Aamer and Mohammed Asif was found guilty of spot fixing in the infamous Lord's Test against England in 2010.
The British court said Butt was the chief architect of the crime which was exposed in a sting operation conducted by the now defunct News of the World. Their agent Mazhar Majeed was also found guilty and is still serving his sentence in jail in England.
The three players were banned for a minimum of five years by the International Cricket Council and were convicted and jailed by a British court for corruption.
Butt was the last of the three cricketers to be released from the UK prison last week after serving less than a quarter of his 30-month sentence.
Breaking his silence for the first time, Butt said: "If you look at the evidence, you can judge that I didn't get justice."
"I had to make a sacrifice because I didn't take anyone's name, it didn't suit me. It's not about me or anyone else, it's about Pakistan. I would like Pakistani courts, the Supreme Court, to hold an open trial and I am sure they will clear me," Butt was quoted as saying by Express News Thursday night.
"I don't accept anything against me. If you look at the evidence against me, I had no links to spot-fixing. Who did and who planned it (I don't know), but certainly I didn't do that. I played for my country and respected that (honour)," he said.
Asked about the money found in the hotel room which was marked by the News of the World, Butt replied: "Yes, there were 4,500 pounds and that was my money. I had to inaugurate an ice cream parlour and got 2,500 pounds (from Majeed) in advance."
"I didn't know that he had paid me notes which were marked. That was my money and that's why I got them back (when I was released) and I have receipt for all that."
Butt said he was overwhelmed with the welcome he received in Lahore.
"It was an unexpected welcome. People showed they still love me. I wasn't expecting it because I was coming from such a place," said Butt of the welcome in Lahore last week.
Butt hoped to clear his name and play for Pakistan again.
"I will do my best to become a good human being and represent Pakistan again. It seems a long shot but I will do my best," said Butt, who apologised for his actions on arrival last week.
"The people in Pakistan are very good, and the way they welcomed me, I am sure they will forgive me," he added. (IANS)
