'Grief-stricken' Butt family postpones wedding
by Mohammad Ali
CORRUPTION: LAHORE, Pakistan, Nov 5, (AFP) - The family of Pakistan's
disgraced former captain Salman Butt was so grief-stricken Friday over
his 30-month sentence for corruption in Britain that it postponed his
sister's wedding.
The 27-year-old bowler who once delighted millions of Pakistanis with
his blistering talent woke up in a British prison with his name
tarnished at home and abroad, convicted over cricket's worst fixing
scandal in more than 10 years.
His father said his lawyers would file an appeal in London on Friday,
but that he was ready to die if his son's guilt is proven.
Unlike the 19-year-old Mohammad Aamer, whom the judge said he
corrupted, Butt grew up in relative luxury in the eastern city of
Lahore, the eldest of three children born to Zulfikar Ali Butt, who runs
a farming business.
His father told AFP his son's conviction was a "big tragedy" for the
family and that as a result, he had been forced to postpone his
22-year-old dentistry student daughter's impending nuptials. "She was
scheduled to marry in Lahore this month, but it has been postponed
because the family is in a state of shock," he told AFP by telephone.
"Her in-laws understand our grief," he added.
Butt's sisters on Thursday alleged that their brother had been made a
scapegoat for a wider conspiracy and was innocent.
"If Salman's involvement is proved and evidence is provided that he
took money, I tell the nation that my son Salman and I are ready to be
hanged publicly," Zulfikar said. "I have brought up my children never to
do such a thing." Salman was convicted of conspiring to accept corrupt
payments and cheat at gambling, and was fined 30,937 ($49,560) in
addition to his jail term.
The judge called him the "orchestrator" and that given his
"leadership status", he was "more culpable" than the other two bowlers
also sentenced.
But Zulfikar described his son as a "practising Muslim who prays five
times a day" and said he was in Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage when Salman
telephoned to say that he had been charged after the Lord's Test against
England in 2010. "I immediately asked him: Tell me on oath how much are
you involved in this scam? He swore that he was not involved.
"My son does not tell lies. He is very kind and helpful. He never
fought with anyone. He is a good natured person.
"He has been trapped in a controversy just to malign the game of
cricket and Pakistan. Two other bowlers were also involved because they
performed well. The assets of our national team have been sent to jail
under a conspiracy."
The father said no one from the Pakistan Cricket Board had contacted
the family and nor had anyone expressed sympathy.
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