ICC object to Pakistan TV channel hiring banned Butt

Salman Butt

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Cricket’s governing body (ICC) is  unhappy that banned batsman Salman Butt has been hired as a TV  pundit for the World Cup and is checking whether the Pakistani  has breached the terms of his punishment.
“We are not satisfied with this appointment and we have  written to (ICC) tribunal chairman Michael Beloff  QC to enquire  whether this could be viewed as a breach against the terms of  his suspended sentence,” ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said  in a statement.

Salman Butt
Salman Butt

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.
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.
The ICC statement added: “The Board, having a zero tolerance  attitude towards corruption, expressed disappointment at the  decision by a minor Pakistan television channel, which has no  relationship with the ICC, to employ the suspended Mr Salman  Butt as a studio pundit during the World Cup.”
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, who will be working for Pakistan’s  Channel 5, 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.