KARACHI, (Reuters) – Banned batsman Salman Butt said  he was delighted to “renew his ties with cricket” after he made  his debut as a television pundit for Pakistan’s opening World  Cup match against Kenya today.
Last week the sport’s governing body (ICC) said it was  unhappy Butt has been hired by little-known Channel Five in  Pakistan and was checking whether he had breached the terms of  his punishment after being found guilty of corruption.
However, Butt was glad to be involved in the sport again –  albeit as an armchair observer.
“It’s great to renew my ties with cricket which remains my  biggest passion and bread and butter even today,” Butt told  Reuters while taking a break from commentating on the Group A  match.
Butt was banned for at least five years by an ICC  anti-corruption tribunal earlier this month after being found  guilty of spot-fixing elements of a test against England last  year, during which he was captain of the team.
The former opener is also facing criminal charges of  accepting bribes and fraud by the London Metropolitan Police and  will appear in a London court on March 17.
“I don’t see anything wrong in working as an expert for the  Pakistan matches. I am not allowed to play any cricket or take  part in cricket activity organised by the ICC or the Pakistan  Cricket Board so I am not breaching the terms of my ban,” Butt  added.
Butt was also sacked by his employer, for whom he played  domestic cricket, and had his central contract terminated by the  Pakistan Cricket Board.
The former skipper has denied any wrongdoing.
The ICC is trying to reduce the possibility of any  corruption taking place during their showpiece event and have  banned players and officials using social networking sites such  as Twitter on World Cup match days.