Salman Butt: My career is not over

Salman Butt, the former Pakistan captain, insists his love for cricket has not diminished despite facing spot-fixing allegations which, if proved, could end his professional career.

Butt, along with fellow Pakistan internationals Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, has been charged under the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption code in relation to allegations of spot-fixing during the fourth Test against England at Lord's in August.

The three were provisionally suspended pending a hearing in Doha next month, and each man denies the allegations against him.

The ICC have insisted they will take a strong line against anyone found guilty of corruption in the game but Butt is hopeful his cricket career is not at an end.

Asked if he was worried he would never play at the top level again, Butt told Sky Sports News: "I would certainly not like to think like that.

"I still remain positive and I know what I'm made of and where I've come from, and how I've played my cricket. Believe me, it has been a lot of passion all throughout my life.

"The love of the game has got me there and that love is bigger than anything, any corrupt thing, which exists."

It had been claimed that police, when they had searched Butt's hotel room, had found a large amount of money, reportedly around £15,000 (Dh86,200).

But Butt said yesterday the money was his and had been given to him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during the tour of England, and the money had simply accumulated during the two-month tour.

"Well I think everybody knows the PCB pays us daily allowances on tours and it was a long tour," he added.

An independent tribunal will hear the cases of Butt, Asif and Aamer in Doha between January 6 and 11.