'Tainted' Butt, Asif set to return in domestic cricket

Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, who were handed a five-year ban for their role in spot fixing scandal, will be allowed to play in domestic cricket from January following the completion of their rehabilitation program.

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who was also part of the scandal, was earlier allowed in April by the ICC to take part in domestic cricket, while Butt and Asif were asked to complete a rehabilitation programme after the ban against them ended at midnight of September 1.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan confirmed the news and said that the tainted duo have been cleared to play in the one-day tournament after completing their rehabilitation, Sport24 reported.

The left-handed opener, who was excited with the decision, admitted that he had done a lot of hard work to overcome the past circumstances.

On the other hand, 32-year-old Asif insisted that he would try his best to get his way back into the national team.

The three players were found guilty of various offences of corrupt behaviour relating to the Lords Test between England and Pakistan in August 2010 by the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal on February 5, 2011.