Asim Butt
Encyclopedia
Asim Mohamood Butt was a Scottish
and Pakistani
cricketer who was primarily a left-arm medium fast
bowler. He played 5 ODIs for Scotland, all in the 1999 Cricket World Cup
. His best ODI bowling figures are two for 24 against Bangladesh
in a match where the Bangladeshis were limited to 183, but the Scots wilted in the low chase and Butt, coming in at ten, could only score one run.
and took one wicket in a drawn game against Sukkur
in the 1983-84 Patron's Trophy
. His career in Pakistan included mainly one-day games, and only yielded one five-wicket-haul - in the 1984-85 Patron's Trophy
against a Lahore Division side where he took five for 53 in the second innings.
In 1998
he made his debut for Scotland, in a Benson & Hedges Cup
game against Yorkshire
, where he was named Man of the Match after taking three wickets for 42. However, Yorkshire still won the match by three wickets. His international debut came in the 1998 Triple Crown Tournament, where he ended with the bowling analysis
of 10-3-14-1 against Ireland
, although this was a minor match that did not have List A status. Butt also played for Scotland in the 2001 ICC Trophy
, where he took five for 11 against Fiji
, but only got one wicket in the remaining seven games. He did, however, top score in Scotland's five-wicket win over UAE
.
Butt missed Scotland's first season in English National League cricket in 2003
, but came back in 2004
with three wickets against Yorkshire. In a season where Scotland only managed two victories, Butt took 11 wickets at an average of 31.72. He also played three first class matches in the 2004 Intercontinental Cup
, where he was more successful, as he was Scotland's top wicket-taker with 16, including his second career five-for in an eight-wicket win over Ireland
- in a match where his bowling yielded nine for 72 in total. Butt's contribution played a major part in Scotland's qualification for the semi-finals stage, and he also took the first four wickets of the second innings in the final against Canada
, which Scotland won by an innings and 86 runs.
Butt played three matches in the 2005
season for Scotland, taking three wickets but being expensive, before he tested positive for Ecstasy during a match with Somerset
. He was subsequently banned from cricket for a year.
Butt died in his sleep, aged 42, in Lahore on 30 November 2009.
Scottish cricket team
The Scotland national cricket team represents Scotland in the game of cricket. They compete in the Clydesdale Bank 40 as the Scottish Saltires...
and Pakistani
Pakistani cricket team
The Pakistan cricket team is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Pakistan, represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board , is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and thus participates in , and cricket matches....
cricketer who was primarily a left-arm medium fast
Fast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
bowler. He played 5 ODIs for Scotland, all in the 1999 Cricket World Cup
1999 Cricket World Cup
-England:-Outside England:-Group A:-Results:-------------------------------------------------------------Group B:-Results:------------------------------------------------------------...
. His best ODI bowling figures are two for 24 against Bangladesh
Bangladeshi cricket team
The Bangladesh national cricket team is a national cricket team representing Bangladesh. The team is administered by the Bangladesh Cricket Board . Bangladesh is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status...
in a match where the Bangladeshis were limited to 183, but the Scots wilted in the low chase and Butt, coming in at ten, could only score one run.
Life and career
He played first class cricket since October 1983, when he scored 40 not outNot out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
and took one wicket in a drawn game against Sukkur
Sukkur
Sukkur, or Sakharu , formerly Aror and Bakar, is the third largest city of Sindh province, situated on the west bank of Indus River in Pakistan in Sukkur District. However, the word Sakharu in Sindhi means "superior", which the spelling of the city's name in Sindhi suggests is the origin of the...
in the 1983-84 Patron's Trophy
Patron's Trophy
The Patron's Trophy is a Pakistani first class cricket competition. It was first played in 1960-61 as the Ayub Trophy and remained so for ten years. In 1970-71 it became the BCCP Trophy and two years later it received the title Patron's Trophy....
. His career in Pakistan included mainly one-day games, and only yielded one five-wicket-haul - in the 1984-85 Patron's Trophy
Patron's Trophy
The Patron's Trophy is a Pakistani first class cricket competition. It was first played in 1960-61 as the Ayub Trophy and remained so for ten years. In 1970-71 it became the BCCP Trophy and two years later it received the title Patron's Trophy....
against a Lahore Division side where he took five for 53 in the second innings.
In 1998
1998 English cricket season
In the 1998 English cricket season Leicestershire won the championship for the second time in three seasons while Lancashire performed the one day double.-Honours:*County Championship - Leicestershire*NatWest Trophy - Lancashire...
he made his debut for Scotland, in a Benson & Hedges Cup
Benson & Hedges Cup
The Benson & Hedges Cup was a one-day cricket competition for first-class counties in England and Wales that was held from 1972 to 2002, one of cricket's longest sponsorship deals....
game against Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
, where he was named Man of the Match after taking three wickets for 42. However, Yorkshire still won the match by three wickets. His international debut came in the 1998 Triple Crown Tournament, where he ended with the bowling analysis
Bowling analysis
In the sport of cricket, a bowling analysis usually refers to a notation summarising a bowler's performance in terms of overs bowled, how many of those overs are maidens , total runs conceded and number of wickets taken...
of 10-3-14-1 against Ireland
Irish cricket team
The Ireland cricket team is the cricket team representing all of Ireland. Because of political difficulties, the Irish Cricket Union was not elected to the International Cricket Council until 1993, and qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2007. The Irish Cricket Union is the...
, although this was a minor match that did not have List A status. Butt also played for Scotland in the 2001 ICC Trophy
2001 ICC Trophy
The 2001 ICC Trophy was a cricket tournament played in Ontario, Canada in 2001. It was the qualifying tournament for the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
, where he took five for 11 against Fiji
Fijian cricket team
The Fiji national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Fiji in international cricket matches. They have been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1965, though their history goes back to the late 19th century....
, but only got one wicket in the remaining seven games. He did, however, top score in Scotland's five-wicket win over UAE
United Arab Emirates cricket team
The United Arab Emirates national cricket team is the team that represents the country of the United Arab Emirates in international cricket matches...
.
Butt missed Scotland's first season in English National League cricket in 2003
2003 English cricket season
The 2003 English cricket season was notable for the long overdue first official County Championship of the oldest county club: Sussex.-Honours:*County Championship - Sussex*C&G Trophy - Gloucestershire*National League - Surrey...
, but came back in 2004
2004 English cricket season
The 2004 English cricket season saw the English cricket team record a 4-0 Test series whitewash over the West Indies. Their one-day form was poor, however. In the Natwest Trophy, they failed to make the final, which saw New Zealand defeat the West Indies by 107 runs. And in the Natwest Challenge,...
with three wickets against Yorkshire. In a season where Scotland only managed two victories, Butt took 11 wickets at an average of 31.72. He also played three first class matches in the 2004 Intercontinental Cup
2004 ICC Intercontinental Cup
The 2004 ICC Intercontinental Cup was the inaugural edition of the ICC Intercontinental Cup first class cricket tournament, an international cricket tournament between nations who have not been awarded Test status by the International Cricket Council. The tournament took place last from 25 March to...
, where he was more successful, as he was Scotland's top wicket-taker with 16, including his second career five-for in an eight-wicket win over Ireland
Irish cricket team
The Ireland cricket team is the cricket team representing all of Ireland. Because of political difficulties, the Irish Cricket Union was not elected to the International Cricket Council until 1993, and qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2007. The Irish Cricket Union is the...
- in a match where his bowling yielded nine for 72 in total. Butt's contribution played a major part in Scotland's qualification for the semi-finals stage, and he also took the first four wickets of the second innings in the final against Canada
Canadian cricket team
The Canada cricket team is the national cricket team representing Canada in men's international competition. It is run by Cricket Canada.While Canada is not sanctioned to play Test matches, the team does take part in One Day International matches and also in first-class games against other...
, which Scotland won by an innings and 86 runs.
Butt played three matches in the 2005
2005 English cricket season
Before the beginning of the 2005 English cricket season began, a resurgent English cricket team had won four Test series in a row, going unbeaten through the 2004 calendar year. The start of the international season saw England defeat Bangladesh 2–0 in their two-match series, winning both Tests by...
season for Scotland, taking three wickets but being expensive, before he tested positive for Ecstasy during a match with Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
. He was subsequently banned from cricket for a year.
Butt died in his sleep, aged 42, in Lahore on 30 November 2009.
Death Controversy
Butt's wife Pakistan born Tara now a UK national, claimed that she has strong suspicions that Butt has faked his own death. She believes that the reason for faking his death is the fact that despite of using all possible resources she is unable to get the death certificate yet. Due to Butt's alleged involvement with drugs and affairs, Tara thinks the motive behind faking death is either the drugs or another woman. However, Heriot’s Cricket Club's representative said they don't find any reason to believe that Butt faked his own death.External links
- "Player Oracle Reveals Results on Cricketarchive" for Asim Butt. Accessed 9 September 2005.