Banned Butt upbeat as he arrives for CAS appeal

Lausanne, Feb 8 (AFP) Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt appeared upbeat as he arrived at a Swiss court today in a bid to overturn a ban imposed for spot-fixing and revive his cricket career. "I feel good," Butt said as he arrived at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, shortly after 9:00 am (0800 GMT). His appearance comes a day after Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif appeared before the court, in what he described to AFP as a "quite busy" day of hearings about the infamous Lord's Test against England in 2010. Butt, Asif and fellow paceman Mohammad Aamer were banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2011 after being found guilty of deliberately contriving no balls to order in that match. The trio were also jailed by a British court over the scandal in November 2011. All three were released last year after completing half of their sentences. The 28-year-old former Pakistan captain said in a statement yesterday he was hoping the hearing, which will last until Friday afternoon, would help end his suspension and allow him to return to the game he loves. Butt, who was banned from the game for 10 years, with the possibility of five suspended, has argued though that the suspension was a career-ending punishment, and has insisted he should be given another opportunity to play for Pakistan. "Cricket is my life and every single day that has passed has been so painful because I have not been able to play," he said Thursday in a statement issued by his lawyer. "All I want is an opportunity to get back into cricket whilst I am still young and I can still play well." A ruling in the case is expected within the next three weeks. (AFP) SHN 02082017 NNNN