PSL 2019: Salman Butt drafted in by Lahore Qalandars to replace injured Mohammad Hafeez

Waseem Ahmed 18:33 19/02/2019
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  • Salman Butt has been drafted in by Lahore Qalandars as a replacement for the injured Mohammad Hafeez.

    His role with the team for the remainder of the Pakistan Super League 2019 season will be Butt’s biggest involvement in professional cricket since his return following a five-year ban. The batsman was suspended for his part in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.

    After finishing bottom of the standings in the last three editions of the T20 league, Lahore assembled a good team on paper for this year’s tournament. Hafeez’s thumb injury however was a major setback for their ambitions and they’re hoping Butt can fill the void with AB de Villiers taking over as captain.

    With Hafeez ruled out for at least a month, Butt will be expected to bat in the No3 slot and his T20 record suggests he would be a good fit.

    The 34-year-old has averaged 55.35 in T20s since his return, racking up 941 runs in 24 innings including nine half-centuries.

    Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – the other two players who were also banned along with Butt – have returned to cricket as well.

    Amir has gone on to play in all three formats for the national team since his return and features for Karachi Kings in the PSL.

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