Leading man of Scottish game

ASIM Butt started his cricketing career with Lahore City before moving on to Lahore City Blues and Pakistan Railways.

Butt was known as a laid-back character who made himself an integral part of Scotland’s bowling attack, as well as being handy with a bat, and starred for the national team at the Cricket World Cup in 1999. He moved to Edinburgh in the mid-1990s and came to the attention of Scotland selectors while playing for Corstorphine and Stewart’s Melville/Royal High.

He won the last of his 71 caps in the Totesport League game against Somerset at the Citylets Grange ground in May 2005, and was one of only 15 players to take more than 100 wickets for Scotland.

Following his death, former Scotland captain Craig Wright said: “Asim made a huge contribution.”

First Minister Alex Salmond also paid tribute. He said: “It is devastating. Asim was not only a first-class cricketer who took our first wicket in the World Cup finals but a man with a fantastic sense of humour and a big heart.”