Thaindian News

Karachi, Nov 3 (IANS) Families of jailed Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammed Aamir stood by them Thursday, saying they are innocent and have been implicated in the spot-fixing case in London.

Butt’s father Zulfiqar said that his son, who was the Pakistan captain during the 2010 Lord’s Test, was made a scapegoat.

“My son has been implicated and made a scapegoat. I will produce evidence and documents to prove what is really happening in this case,” Zulfiqar was quoted as saying by the Express Channel.

Butt’s sister Rubab said the cricketer’s mother and wife, who delivered the couple’s second child Monday minutes before the cricketer was convicted, were not well.

“My mum is not well. His (Butt) wife, ever since she had the surgery with the baby - they haven’t been eating, they keep crying - there’s tremendous stress and there’s a lot of tension. But it’s quite natural, of course, because he’s my only brother, he’s my mum’s only son; he means everything to us. And he’s in a foreign country, he’s all alone, none of us is there with him and it’s quite painful,” said Rubab.

Amir’s mother Nasim Akhtar also said that her son was innocent and blamed Butt for the incident.

“My son is innocent and he bowled the no-balls after being asked by the captain. I spoke to him two days ago and he asked me to pray for his acquittal. My prayers are with my son and only Allah will do justice with us,” she said.

Amir’s brother Mohammad Ijaz said that the youngster shouldn’t have been sentenced despite pleading guilty.

“He should not have been sentenced after his confession. We were under the impression that he will be released after the imposition of a fine,” Ijaz was quoted as saying by the Pakistani media.

Butt was jailed for 30 months for “orchestrating” spot-fixing during the fourth Test between Pakistan and England at Lord’s in August last year. Fast bowler Mohammad Asif was imprisioned for one year and young Mohammad Aamer for six months.

Cricket agent Mazhar Majeed was jailed for two years and eight months by the Southwark Crown Court in London Thursday.