04 November,2011 08:30 AM IST | | Sanjib Guha
If an Indian plays well against Pakistan, he earns instant fame because of the arch-rivalry. And former Pakistan captain Salman Butt -- now handed a jail sentence of two-and-half years -- was among those who was adored by the Pakistanis for the fact that he has matched the Indians shot for shot, especially in the ODIs.
For the record, Butt has played 21 limited-overs games against India and scored 992 runs with five centuries at an average of a shade over 52. In fact, four of those tons came in winning causes.
Butt proved to be India's nemesis in the first ODI he played against India at the Eden Gardens (BCCI Platinum Jubilee match) in November 2004. The swashbuckling opener scored an unbeaten 108 and helped Pakistan win by six wickets.
The next century came five months later -- a brilliant 101 in Jamshedpur to give Pakistan a well-deserved 106-run victory. The next three were 101 at Peshawar in 2006, 129 in Kanpur in 2007 and 129 not out in Dhaka in 2008.
In Tests though he fared averagely against the neighbouring country. Having played seven Tests, he managed three 50-plus scores at an average of 25.15.u00a0 Impressed with his abilities, Kolkata Knight Riders hired him for the inaugural Indian Premier League in 2008.
