ISLAMABAD: Former captain Salman Butt asked the Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday to treat banned players equally in their bid to resume domestic and international careers.

Butt and teammates Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were jailed and banned for a minimum of five years in 2010 by the International Cricket Council for spot-fixing — in this case bowling deliberate no-balls — during a test match against England. Butt was captain for the match.

While Amir pleaded guilty and didn’t contest the punishment, Butt and Asif saw their appeals rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last year. The minimum five-year bans for all three players are due to end in Sept. 2015.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi has said he will fight at the ICC for Amir to resume playing at least domestic first class cricket later this year after ICC anti-corruption laws are amended at June’s board meeting.

Sethi said top lawyers in UK have advised him that Butt and Asif do not have strong cases.

“I wish what he (Sethi) is doing for Amir, he should also do for other (banned) players too,” Butt told reporters in Lahore. “Pakistan does need Amir and I wish him all the best, but I think other players should also get similar treatment.” It’s not yet clear how the banned players would return to international cricket once the anti-corruption laws are amended. However, Sethi said he had strongly pleaded Amir’s case at the board meeting in Dubai earlier this week, noting that Amir pleaded guilty and also underwent rehabilitation.

Butt said he also wanted to start his rehabilitation, including attending lectures from PCB anti-corruption officials, but claimed nothing had yet been arranged.

“I have met with PCB’s anti-corruption official at least 10 times, but he always says that the board will let me know,” said Butt, adding that “people do make mistakes, but once they serve their punishments they should be given a chance to revive their lives.” Banned Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir will not be eligible for next year’s World Cup even if he returns early to domestic cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Friday.

PCB Chairman Najam Sethi told a news conference in Lahore that under the amended anti-corruption laws of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Aamir’s five-year ban could be reduced by 12 months.

Aamir, 21, was banned for a minimum five years in 2011 for spot-fixing during Pakistan’s fourth test against England at Lord’s in 2010.

His captain Salman Butt and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif were also banned for the same offense and the three players served jail terms in Britain in 2011-12.

Sethi said Pakistan had pushed for a reduction in Aamir’s suspension because of his age.

“The message we got from the ICC committee at this week’s meeting in Dubai was that Amir could get a one-year relaxation under the amended anti-corruption laws,” he added.

The amended ICC anti-corruption code should ensure quicker returns to international cricket for players serving long-term bans.