Today Guardian Newspaper - Salman Butt maintains his innocence over hotel room cash

[BLC99]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010...an-salman-butt


Salman Butt, one of the three suspended Pakistan players who are under investigation by the International Cricket Council over spot-fixing claims, has spoken for the first time about the money that was found by police searching his possessions.

Butt has rejected claims of a link between the banknotes found in his possession and the £150,000 that was handed over by undercover reporters as payment for the no-balls. He said the money was given to him by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"I think everybody knows the PCB pays us daily allowances on tours and it was a long tour so about £11,000 of that money was from my daily allowances and, being captain, I have an extra entertainment allowance which amounts to about £4,500 on the tour, which I had with me."

The 26-year-old is not willing to countenance the end of his international career. "I certainly would not like to think like that. I will still remain positive and hopeful," Butt said, in an interview with Sky for a special report on the Pakistan cricket crisis, which is to be broadcast tonight at 7.30pm on Sky Sports News.

[enigmatic_stani]

Yea cos everyone carries their wages and allowances in cash with them at all times. And there I was stupidly thinking that income normally went into bank accounts. So does this mean that Yawar and co have approx 160,000 pounds on them at the start of each tour to hand out as the weeks go on???

[BLC99]

There where on a Pay - Fix as you go Contract

[hasanb]

So thats a daily allowance of approximately 125 pounds per day over the whole tour. Thats not bad i wouldnt mind that!

[Syndrome]

Why is this even an issue? The ICC just needs to ask the PCB on their policy of allowances.

[Aditya Khanna]

From sister's trousseau to icecream parlour to allowance money. He's spinning it!

[Indiafan]

So the captain gets an extra allowance? No wonder everyone in Pakistan team wants to be the captain

[ShehryarK]

Originally Posted by Indiafan So the captain gets an extra allowance?

Its entertainment allowance to entertain in his official capacity as captain, plus he probably has to spend it on the team too ie take them out, organise team parties, team building events etc.

[farazaidi]

Originally Posted by enigmatic_stani Yea cos everyone carries their wages and allowances in cash with them at all times. And there I was stupidly thinking that income normally went into bank accounts. So does this mean that Yawar and co have approx 160,000 pounds on them at the start of each tour to hand out as the weeks go on???

Imagine Yawar Saeed standing with a bucket load of cash and the players cueing up to take their daily allowance before breakfast

[IAJ]

They found £150,000 and £11,000+ £4,500 are his daily allowances and extra entertainment allowance respectively.

So what about the rest £134,500?

[abc_to_xyz]

Originally Posted by BLC99 http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010...an-salman-butt £150,000 that was handed over by undercover reporters as payment for the no-balls. He said the money was given to him by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

interesting.... v. interesting indeed.. I wont be surprised if Ijaz Butt himself was involved in all this

[enigmatic_stani]

Didn't little Butt supposedly state that 50,000 was for his sisters wedding.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by IAJ They found £150,000 and £11,000+ £4,500 are his daily allowances and extra entertainment allowance respectively. So what about the rest £134,500?

To this date theres been no solid proof or statement that claims £150,000 was found. Just random media reports.

[ShehryarK]

Originally Posted by IAJ They found £150,000 and £11,000+ £4,500 are his daily allowances and extra entertainment allowance respectively. So what about the rest £134,500?

They didn't find £150,000.

The found a much smaller amount.

[Sitges]

Didn't this useless player claim that he was owed money going back to T20 world cup.

[the SHA]

They found only a few thousand pounds on each player. Salman Butt had the most.

PCB does pay an allowance to touring players it seems. It is odd though that they choose to do this via unsanctioned agents using notes provided by a British tabloid newspaper!!

[enigmatic_stani]

If the notes found in his room were the same as the marked ones the NOTW gave Majeed, then I'm sorry he hasn't got a leg to stand on.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by enigmatic_stani If the notes found in his room were the same as the marked ones the NOTW gave Majeed, then I'm sorry he hasn't got a leg to stand on.

The case is trivial if this is the situation.

Then again, they'll say hes their agent and the money was for a sponsorship deal.

[SOSami]

One question I have is: what has happened to the case against Mr Majid?

There was allegedly a smoking gun in the case against him.

If he isn't prosecuted (and jailed) it will defo ring some alarm bells in the minds of the advocates of the "It's a set-up theory".

Anyone know what's going on with him? He's the one that gave Salman the money, or so it's reported...

[Hassan0987]

Originally Posted by SOSami One question I have is: what has happened to the case against Mr Majid? There was allegedly a smoking gun in the case against him. If he isn't prosecuted (and jailed) it will defo ring some alarm bells in the minds of the advocates of the "It's a set-up theory". Anyone know what's going on with him? He's the one that gave Salman the money, or so it's reported...

I actually have the same question in my mind, anyone know anything about this?

[Sherlock]

He could just say Majeed being his agent, gave him the cash as sponsorship money.

[fanforevershoaibak]

yes he his right belive me he is innocent inshAllah yaar mmajeed sirf aek conspiracy sirf us nay andazay laghey hai jessy kehtay tukka mai yakeen say kehta kittni baa mai nai tukkay laghey mai kamyab howa woh movie banaey saab aek big plan tah the news ka insSHALLAH YEAH CLEAR HO jai ghey i belive on salman mann lo saath do is ka baad mai mat kehna batay nahi yeah akhri adalat to nahi

[Proud To Be A Pakistani]

Well the thing is that .. they have been in the limelight the whole time .. what I don't get it ... why for not for once ... mazhar majeed became the part of the on going investigation ... he was part of it ... at the very start ... since it have moved ... seems like ... he is almost no longer part of all this ... how can you find them guilty & let the person who host the fix ..... just go free & corrupt more individuals ....but its very unlikely that he can be charged at all .... in all this .. so far ... they ain't even including him news .... . thats bit strange

[Amjid Javed]

Originally Posted by IAJ They found £150,000 and £11,000+ £4,500 are his daily allowances and extra entertainment allowance respectively. So what about the rest £134,500?

Maybe he went to Casino and won it ;)

[blinding light]

Originally Posted by enigmatic_stani Yea cos everyone carries their wages and allowances in cash with them at all times. And there I was stupidly thinking that income normally went into bank accounts. So does this mean that Yawar and co have approx 160,000 pounds on them at the start of each tour to hand out as the weeks go on???

They don't have bank accounts in every country where they could keep the surplus amounts. How the management hands out the money, now that is certainly debatable.

Originally Posted by IAJ They found £150,000 and £11,000+ £4,500 are his daily allowances and extra entertainment allowance respectively. So what about the rest £134,500?

Last time BBC reported, the amount recovered from him alone was close to 10-15k pounds. Albeit in various currencies, because he was carrying them for 2-3 tours (Dirhams, NZ currency, dollars etc).

Originally Posted by Sitges Didn't this useless player claim that he was owed money going back to T20 world cup.

Match FEES and daily ALLOWANCES and further a basic SALARY - thats what these players get, baring sponsorship deals.

He said he was owed 87 lac rupees as MATCH FEES, which are usually paid at year end.

Daily Allowances - the whole squad gets an amount to spend on themselves irrespective of selection. Captain gets extra entertainment fees.

I think until before his contract was suspended - he was an A-category player, which meant 2.5 lac automatically paid to him per month, whatever he did.

Originally Posted by the SHA They found only a few thousand pounds on each player. Salman Butt had the most. PCB does pay an allowance to touring players it seems. It is odd though that they choose to do this via unsanctioned agents using notes provided by a British tabloid newspaper!!

What still isn't clear is WHAT amount recovered was from the marked money and what was just plain normal money. So far, not any reliable news outlet has come out to say that.

Originally Posted by Sherlock He could just say Majeed being his agent, gave him the cash as sponsorship money.

His alibi for 2500 pounds MARKED currency is that Majeed paid him that amount as sponsorship money he received for the opening of an ice cream parlour in Toting. He has shown written and signed contracts to the SY of this. If the marked amount recovered is not more than 2500 pounds, then I don't know what leg ICC has to stand on.

Salman should hire me as well

[the SHA]

What still isn't clear is WHAT amount recovered was from the marked money and what was just plain normal money. So far, not any reliable news outlet has come out to say that. His alibi for 2500 pounds MARKED currency is that Majeed paid him that amount as sponsorship money he received for the opening of an ice cream parlour in Toting. He has shown written and signed contracts to the SY of this. If the marked amount recovered is not more than 2500 pounds, then I don't know what leg ICC has to stand on. Salman should hire me as well

To be honest, its not a matter of how much but if. Or rather, it should be if what you're interested in is likely credibility.

If they possessed £10 from the NOTW cash, then they are unfortunately tainted. However as you suggest, proving in a court this represents 'contract for no-balls' with their Agent is a much taller order and they may 'get off' yet. Dont fool yourself into making angels of them though!

[Crazy_K]

And he had some money from the ice cream shop opening

[WhiteDudeFromTrinidad]

whenever a celebrity opens a store there is always a photographer on hand

this is the whole purpose of why any store owner would pay a celeb, to publicise the business tp the media, even if it's only the local media

one thing i've noticed about this forum, the Pak players can't even have lunch in public without being ambushed by a PP member

so can anyone provide a link or pic of SB opening this ice cream parlour in Tooting, South London (is that the correct location?)

[OZGOD]

Why didn't he say this months ago?

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by OZGOD Why didn't he say this months ago?

He was following PCB's guidelines back then by keeping quite.

[blinding light]

Originally Posted by the SHA To be honest, its not a matter of how much but if. Or rather, it should be if what you're interested in is likely credibility. If they possessed £10 from the NOTW cash, then they are unfortunately tainted. However as you suggest, proving in a court this represents 'contract for no-balls' with their Agent is a much taller order and they may 'get off' yet. Dont fool yourself into making angels of them though!

I'm not - neither do I think its a world conspiracy to destroy our cricket. I do know SOMETHING happened - who did it, how serious was it, when this happened - no clue. But there is no smoke without fire. Or thats what I've come to believe.

Salman said in one interview - "Mujhey woh paisa bol ker tou nahi bata sakta tha key mein juwe ka hun ya nahi....." I agree with him to that extent - but like I said - whats more grave is whether the amount recovered of marked money was more than 2500 pounds or not. IMO, that would determine his guilt or innocence.

[FusedBulb]

He pretty much is on the ropes here but rightly so he can not confess, or else there is no point fighting the case in a court of law.

[KSaeed]

Originally Posted by OZGOD Why didn't he say this months ago?

He was not allowed to say anything because of PCB. Now that this has been opened up, I doubt him a lot less. The cash could well have been his daily allowance. Inshalllah things will go well for the trio

[blinding light]

Originally Posted by OZGOD Why didn't he say this months ago?

KSaeed cleared alot - but I personally think he should have been a lot more open at the Lord's press conf. and should have bended the rules - but his silence was the main part where poor guy went wrong.

[Khabri420]

So was he not spending the allowance...and being a kanjoos, and living off of other players' allowances

[Gujar]

If this is true then surely the PCB can back it up by substantiating his claims and clarifying that they did indeed give him this amount as part of his allowance.

[blinding light]

I'm sure ICC would be aware of PCB's payment policy - but the PCB has been barred from associating with the trio - I doubt they'd ever make a statement confirming that the money was indeed daily allowances.

[Tay'yab-Ali Malik]

I believe everyone has missed the big picture. The money from NOTW to the agent was 'marked', and therefore it can be traced back to NOTW.

So unless Majeed gave some of the money he recieved to PCB after which they passed it onto SB; his explantion does not stand up to close scrutiny.

I thought he may have claimed the money was for payment due for endorsements from Majeed- that would make more sense? Clearly been given poor legal advice

[MajidBhuta-AamirFan]

Originally Posted by harisj To this date theres been no solid proof or statement that claims £150,000 was found. Just random media reports.

What i heard from all english news channels, it was £15,000, i don't know where did u bring this £150, 000.

what i heard before it was like this, agent majeed got £150k from another agent to show the demo that he has 7 players in his pocket!

and then he divided that cash into few players like butt, asif and aamer, the agent who wanted to see the demo, marked some kinda signs on the cash. and NOTW claims the cash found from salman butt's room was the same that our agent had given to majeed.. thats the story i heard in norway!

[hasanmehmoodkhan]

Originally Posted by harisj Why is this even an issue? The ICC just needs to ask the PCB on their policy of allowances.

I bet PCb doesnt even know its own policy

[NZPakistanFan]

Yawn. This guy just needs to shrink back into the shadows from where he came. No one is buying this act, but I guess it's understandable. There's no way he will get off the charges and no way he will return to cricket. But at least this way, there's always a tiny element of doubt in some peoples minds, which means he can probably do some other things in life without total persecution.

The one thing I found interesting in that article was this. . .

"Zulqarnain Haider has spoken of the alleged influence of bookmakers on the Pakistan team. Haider is seeking asylum in the UK after absconding from international duty. His appeal to be allowed to stay was due to have been heard by immigration officials over the weekend"

Is this the reason he's been keeping cards close to his chest? Waiting until he is guaranteed asylum before speaking out with names etc? If he is refused protection and has to return to Pakistan, you can understand that he'd rather that happen before he'd given up the identities of any crooks involved in fixing, for safety reasons.

Of course, he could be just a little crazy

[ShehryarK]

Originally Posted by blinding light They don't have bank accounts in every country where they could keep the surplus amounts.

Exactly. It would actually not be possible for visitors / tourists in England just for a few months to even open a bank account at a high street bank, as far as I know.

[W63L35]

Traveler's Checks, anyone?

[saeed-sohail]

Some ppl are in denial.
Even a paindoo doesn't carry big money on him.These are sportsmen who can open bank accounts here and most banks transfer money overseas if you want.As for carrying dirhams and rayyals I can't remember us touring UAE before tour of Eng.

[ShehryarK]

Originally Posted by W63L35 Traveler's Checks, anyone?

Absolutely. That would be the sensible and logical way to deal with this.



But we are talking about the PCB here....

[OZGOD]

Originally Posted by KSaeed He was not allowed to say anything because of PCB. Now that this has been opened up, I doubt him a lot less. The cash could well have been his daily allowance. Inshalllah things will go well for the trio

The PCB wouldn't allow him to say he was innocent?

[ShehryarK]

Originally Posted by OZGOD The PCB wouldn't allow him to say he was innocent?

Good one.

It defies belief that anyone would carry around 29,000 pounds in cash in London.

Only an idiot or a corrupt person would that.

Take your pick.

[Garuda]

Originally Posted by ShehryarK Exactly. It would actually not be possible for visitors / tourists in England just for a few months to even open a bank account at a high street bank, as far as I know.

I visit more than 5-6 countries every year and yes, I do not have account in every country. But the amount of cash I have to carry is around 200-300 GBP.

May be PCB have never heard the name of cash cards provided by almost all banks.

[161]

I think I kind of understand Salman's thinking.

He knows he is going down either way - whether he admits it or not.

However since the Pak public is so gullible at least if he denies it he will continue to have some support at home.

[blinding light]

Originally Posted by ShehryarK Exactly. It would actually not be possible for visitors / tourists in England just for a few months to even open a bank account at a high street bank, as far as I know.

I don't understand your stance. You claim you don't buy the act, but you're buying this bit? Can you please clarify?

Originally Posted by W63L35 Traveler's Checks, anyone?

Doubt the PCB would even know what they are.

[ShehryarK]

Originally Posted by blinding light I don't understand your stance. You claim you don't buy the act, but you're buying this bit? Can you please clarify?

I don't have a 'stance' or any preconceived notions on this; hence I can call things as I see them.

There are a number of different issues here:


1. Do the trio's explanations of how they happened to ball those predicted no-balls make any sense? No they don't. In fact, no innocent explanation has yet been provided by them; hence, this would indicate they are guilty of being involved in spot-foxing.


2. Do "normal" people carry 29,000 pounds with them in cash? No, they don't. Only an idiot or a corrupt person would do that, IMHO.


3. Could Salman's current explanation of how he happened to have all this money with him be true? Possibly, yes. It would make him an idiot, but not necessarily a liar at least in this aspect. So his explanations for the 29,000 cash: Plausible? Yes. Probable? No.


4. And finally: do I want them to be let-off on a technicality even if they were involved in deliberately bowling those no-balls and/or in spot-fixing? Heck NO!

---------------------------------------

The specific post of mine that you quoted above was an extension of point 3. Some people disbelieve his explanations on the basis that all 16 players would be paid through UK bank accounts. Its highly unlikely that the players had UK bank accounts. But even if I didn't have a UK bank account, if I was given 29,000 in cash today by my employer, I'd get travellers' cheques or something.

Furthermore, just because they don't have UK bank accounts doesn't mean that the PCB would necessarily pay all match fees upfront for six months! This is the same organisation that still hasn't paid him for the 2009 World Cup!

And the lack of bank accounts also doesn't explain the very large amounts of money involved.

We need the PCB to confirm/deny that they pave Butt cash of this magnitude.

Hence, as I said - whilst his current explanation is not impossible, it is implausible.

And that's before we consider how he's 'evolved' his explanations on this matter over time.

[pinger]

If you believe this I have a nigerian banker who needs your email.

[haroon]

Originally Posted by enigmatic_stani Yea cos everyone carries their wages and allowances in cash with them at all times. And there I was stupidly thinking that income normally went into bank accounts. So does this mean that Yawar and co have approx 160,000 pounds on them at the start of each tour to hand out as the weeks go on???

Yep I make less then one % of what salman is making yearly...it goes stright to my bank account...the difference is that I work hard 60 hours a week and proud to say that I dont sell my ayman and country..hell I wont do it even if I am offered 10 times more tha n what he was offered...

[kkmix]

Who carries 20,000 euros cashhh . someone tell him it's not rupess that you can fit in your pocket.

[osee_bhai]

Originally Posted by pinger If you believe this I have a nigerian banker who needs your email.

Come on guys it's only 29k! For such a big sports star it isn't THAT much. Even if it isn't really plausible, if it's possible he will create enough doubt in his case.

[Random Aussie]

Originally Posted by kashif77 I think I kind of understand Salman's thinking. He knows he is going down either way - whether he admits it or not. However since the Pak public is so gullible at least if he denies it he will continue to have some support at home.

Right on the money here.

[SOSami]

Saw the Butt interview on Sky Sports News this morning. He looked and sounded guilty as sin. Just an observation....not an indictment.

[Gabbar Singh]

I wonder if Salman declares all these additional payments to the Pakistani or British tax authorities?

Then again, given what he's accused of I think tax evasion is the least of his problems.

[Cover Drive]

Originally Posted by Khabri420 So was he not spending the allowance...and being a kanjoos, and living off of other players' allowances

He was saving for his sister's dowry.

Originally Posted by ShehryarK Exactly. It would actually not be possible for visitors / tourists in England just for a few months to even open a bank account at a high street bank, as far as I know.

I am sure they have accounts in Pakistan so PCB can directly transfer the funds into there Pakistani bank account. In addition, for spending part what players can do is that they can have Visa card of same bank account and Visa is used worldwide so thats not a problem at all.

That would be cheaper for the board and safer for the player.

By having one account they can basically keep the track of the transactions as well and if needed to transfer they can do that.

[ShehryarK]

Originally Posted by Cover Drive I am sure they have accounts in Pakistan so PCB can directly transfer the funds into there Pakistani bank account. In addition, for spending part what players can do is that they can have Visa card of same bank account and Visa is used worldwide so thats not a problem at all. That would be cheaper for the board and safer for the player. By having one account they can basically keep the track of the transactions as well and if needed to transfer they can do that.

Salman might do all that as he's educated and has a brain, but I doubt many other Pak players or the Cricket Board would understand what any of the above means!

[Cover Drive]

Originally Posted by ShehryarK Salman might do all that as he's educated and has a brain, but I doubt many other Pak players or the Cricket Board would understand what any of the above means!

We all saw throughout the summer that how educated Mr. Butt are .

I don't think Board doesn't know. I mean when board pays the players on foreign tour how do they pay them then ? Where does the money come from ? Is it that they take Millions of Rupees to a Money Exchange in Pakistan and get Pounds and send them to England via team manager or media manager and tell them to distribute the money like you distribute Eidi on Eid ? Or board has a account in England where they withdraw the funds from ? Or board pays the player in advance ? If they do then why would he take the funds to UK especially if his sister's wedding is in Pakistan.

I am pretty sure a bank transfer process is involved.

[ShehryarK]

Originally Posted by Cover Drive We all saw throughout the summer that how educated Mr. Butt are . I don't think Board doesn't know. I mean when board pays the players on foreign tour how do they pay them then ? Where does the money come from ? Is it that they take Millions of Rupees to a Money Exchange in Pakistan and get Pounds and send them to England via team manager or media manager and tell them to distribute the money like you distribute Eidi on Eid ? Or board has a account in England where they withdraw the funds from ? Or board pays the player in advance ? If they do then why would he take the funds to UK especially if his sister's wedding is in Pakistan. I am pretty sure a bank transfer process is involved.

CD bhai I wasn't being serious!

[Cover Drive]

Originally Posted by ShehryarK CD bhai I wasn't being serious!

And I wasn't being serious either mate I was just pulling your leg

I hope I didn't hurt you or your feelings But Butt is culprit in my eyes