NEU » s anyway. So its always cool watching the

When one is writing for any publication, it is best to try and avoid too much emotion. Though your passions are central to any good writing, if you wear your colours too openly, you are prone to being sideswiped by accusations of bias and prejudice. After a few harrowing experiences with cyber mobs, I have generally tried to hide any agenda behind data and evidence.But the person I am writing about here is somebody I have opposed quite vocally, and so it seems futile to try to pretend I am being objective here. With that disclaimer in place, let us examine the news that the former Pakistan captain and opener, Salman Butt, is expected to be included in the upcoming ODI series against West Indies.My issue with Butt isnt limited to the fact that the spot-fixing scandal tainted him. While the act was extremely contemptible and shameful, over the last few years I have consistently argued for allowing the three disgraced cricketers to return to playing the sport at any level once their bans were served. In my opinion, if you dont wish to see them back, then your issue is with the laws and not the players themselves.The reason I dont particularly like Butt has been because of his attitude since the scandal. While Mohammad Asif displayed indifference and Mohammad Amir remorse, Butt showed defiance. Now I am not going to argue whether any of these reactions were sincere, and indeed, I expect they were carefully created reactions rather than heartfelt ones. What I am talking about here is the chosen response.For several years, even as his lawyers were accepting his guilt, Butt acted as if he was the victim of a vast conspiracy and someone who was completely innocent. He showed up at political rallies against corruption, attended conventions on accountability at elite universities, and appeared on talk shows where he seemed to stop just short of blaming the Illuminati for conspiring against him. In a country that is never short of conspiracy theories, Butt played out a remarkable narrative where five years in, it left many wondering if indeed he was just some pawn in a massive game.But that is not a reason to oppose his return to the team. That is a decision that should be taken purely on cricketing grounds, and in that sense, Butt has made some sort of a claim. In his first List A tournament since returning, he was the second-highest scorer, averaging over 100 in seven games, with a century and four fifties. He was then selected in the more elite Pakistan Cup, based on five teams. Butt passed 50 once, and averaged 27. His latest outing has been in the recently concluded National T20 cup, where he averaged over 70 with four fifties, once again ending up the second-highest scorer behind an Akmal.For his supporters, such numbers surely merit a return to the side, but there are a couple of caveats. In the two tournaments that Butt has done well in, the bowling stocks were fairly weak, with few internationals playing. Butt did much worse in the higher-quality List A tournament. More importantly, his strike rate has been worryingly poor throughout. In his first tournament, he and Shan Masood stood out among the top ten batsmen for their strike rates, around 75, with the rest all at 85 and above. In the Pakistan Cup, Butts strike rate of 65 was worse than those of his team-mates Masood and Asad Shafiq, both of whom are known for batting relatively sedately. In the National T20, his brilliant average came at a strike rate of 102, which was an aberration among the top batsmen. His semi-final knock displayed this trait best - he scored 55, yet took 55 balls to do so. In charitable terms, it could be said that his approach is obsolete in modern batting. In cynical terms, it could be said that he is selfishly putting together runs to get back into the national side.Now it might be harsh to judge a player returning after five years this way, and more appropriate to focus on his successes, but given that Butt might be poised to return to national duty, it is important to consider what he brings to the table. As an opener, he is contesting for one of two spots, given that the other is taken by the incumbent captain, Azhar Ali.Azhar has had a major impact on the top spot, and his personal record is among the worlds best. And though he has played with ten different partners, over the last year Pakistans opening partnership has put on more runs than that of any team bar England, at an average better than Australias and South Africas. But Azhars strike rate is still below international standards, and unlike other options such as Sarfraz Ahmed or Sharjeel Khan, Butt will definitely be the slower partner of the two. Bringing him in as an opener feels both unfair as well as a step back in terms of ignoring younger options.Pakistans real problem lies in the middle order, where their partnership numbers are just about respectable in terms of the average, but their run rates are closer to those of Associate sides. Once again, Butt cant quite be expected to provide the answers here, even when accounting for the fact that if he were to play here, he would be batting in unfamiliar positions.Given all that, it doesnt make sense to turn to someone like Butt in the white-ball side, at least at the moment. While even a critic like myself cant deny the sheer weight of his runs, it would be foolish to imagine that strike rates dont matter in the modern game. Moreover, with Pakistan struggling to qualify for the next World Cup, picking a player like Butt feels like giving up. Given that Pakistans coach, Mickey Arthur, recently criticised his ODI side for playing 90s-era cricket, its quite puzzling that Butts sub-75 strike rate is being viewed as an option. Of course, he still might be able to convert his style to a more modern pace, but he hasnt given any indications of doing so at the moment. Cheap Panthers Jerseys . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Florida Panthers Gear . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. https://www.panthersjerseycheap.com/ . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Panthers Jerseys 2020 . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Fake Panthers Jerseys . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. MIAMI -- The San Francisco 49ers, who have been playing since 1946, are on the verge of taking their losing to a new level.A loss Sunday at Miami would be the 49ers 10th in a row, a franchise record. The lone victory came 2+ months ago in the season opener, and their 1-9 record has earned them the nickname the one-and-Niners.If fans dont take them seriously, how can the Dolphins?The challenge is if the players read the paper or watch the news, Miami offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen said. We always really emphasize, `Just worry about us. Dont worry about the opponent. Its just a nameless, faceless opponent. Lets go play good football. If we do, things are going to be OK.That approach has worked just fine in recent weeks for the Dolphins (6-4), who try Sunday for a sixth consecutive victory , which would be their longest winning streak in 11 years.Here are things to know about the matchup between teams headed in opposite directions:GREAT EXPECTATIONS: No team is a bigger favorite Sunday than Miami, heady stuff for a franchise that hasnt made the playoffs since 2008.Hopes of ending the drought are on the rise, even though the Dolphins havent exactly dominated, coming from behind in the fourth quarter of each of their past four games. And a wave of injuries has left the offensive line in a mess .But the players deny theyre susceptible to an upset against the woeful 49ers.I dont think its a trap at all, running back Jay Ajayi said. All were looking at is the Niners. The playoffs are so far away. With records, you can buy into all that stuff, but we were 1-4 a few weeks ago. So when we turn on the tape, we see a team that plays hard and is a physical team, and they have talent over there. Well be ready to play.Credit Ajayi for finding ways to compliment a team that ranks last in the NFL in defense, last in run defense and third worst in offense. They 49ers are 0-5 since Colin Kaepernick took over at quarterback for Blaine Gabbert.Ultimately we have to be the ones that change the outcome of these games and change the path that were on, Kaepernick said. We have to stay focused on that task, and not let what has happened in the past affect that.TALE OF TWO HALVES: Kaepernick has been a completely different quarterback in the first half than the second. He has started fast, completing 73.5 percent of his passes with 11 yards per attempt, six TDs, ttwo interceptions and a 126.dddddddddddd2 passer rating in the first two quarters. He has fallen off after that, completing 38 percent with 4.2 yards per attempt, one TD and a 55.2 rating in the second half.We have to execute in the second half, coach Chip Kelly said.BIG VOID: The Niners struggling defense lost another key player when safety Eric Reid went down with a season-ending biceps injury. He joins LB NaVorro Bowman (Achilles tendon tear) and DL Arik Armstead (shoulder) on IR for a defense that has allowed the second-most yards and points this season.Reid is particularly hard to replace because of his versatility. He has lined up at inside and outside linebacker, covered tight ends and played both safety positions. He ranks second on the team with 62 tackles. Second-year safety Jaquiski Tartt will be called on to replace Reid.Hes got great range and ball skills, coordinator Jim ONeill said. Hes got a knack for reading the quarterback.WATCHING THE HIGHLIGHTS: Ajayis productivity has declined each of the past three weeks, but he leads all running backs with an average of 5.6 yards per carry and confesses to enjoying replays of his breakaway runs in team meetings.Its fun watching the tape, because during the play you dont really know everything thats going on, he said. I kind of black out during plays anyway. So its always cool watching the big plays over and seeing the little things -- the receivers extra effort, and people on the sideline getting excited.PENALTY PROBLEM: The Dolphins rank second in yards penalized with 77 per game, and theyve been flagged 40 times in the past four games. The coaching staff shrugs off some penalties -- but not post-whistle personal fouls, which have been a problem.Its a fine line. We like how theyre playing. We really like the aggressiveness, Christensen said. But losing your poise will lose games. Were getting to a point where a mistake can eliminate you from contention or from a playoff game.---AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow in San Francisco contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL.---Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/steven-wine ' ' '