ICC was prejudiced in my case: Mohammad Asif
Asif also said he will be publishing a book with the details of the spot-fixing scandal. -File photo by AP
LAHORE: Disgraced former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif said on Monday his appeal against a seven-year ban for spot-fixing will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in February.
The 29-year-old was jailed by a British court in November last year after being found guilty of corruption charges over deliberate no-balls during the Lord’s Test against England in August 2010.
Teammates Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir were also jailed in the same case.
All three were freed earlier this year.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) also handed the trio long bans. But Asif, who returned to Pakistan on Sunday, told reporters he had taken his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports.
“I have come home after one year and missed my family, friends and my country,” said Asif.
“My appeal against the ICC ban will be heard in February next year and I hope that I will get justice.”
Asif, who has been banned twice for drugs offences, accused the ICC of prejudice.
“The ICC was prejudiced in my case and I am going to highlight that during my appeal,” he said. “I can never think of staining my country’s name and I did nothing wrong.
“It was a case of a no-ball and that can happen in a cricket match. My book on this case is also coming shortly in which I will highlight some points which were not highlighted by the media until now.”
Asif came to be regarded as one of Pakistan’s finest new-ball bowlers after making his debut on the Australia tour in 2004.
He took 106 wickets in 23 Tests and 46 wickets in 38 one-day internationals but his career was blighted by controversies.
He and team-mate Shoaib Akhtar failed a drugs test and were banned for one year in 2006, though the ban was later overturned on appeal.
He was again banned for a year after failing a drugs test during the Indian Premier League in 2008, and on his return from the league was detained at Dubai airport after a banned drug was found in his possession.
Asif said he hoped to return to the game after getting his ban lifted.
“I am fit and have played a club-level game in England and once the ban is lifted I am sure I can return to cricket and help my country,” he said.
These cheaters just don’t give up..honestly not that it matters, but I don’t think I will be able to watch a cricket game the day I see Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif in the line up.
It was nice to see a unanimous condemnation of a cheater from all the comments on this page. I wish we could do the same against our rulers too and atleast be able to show / express the dislike. Unfortunately there is no ICC to convict them. Asif is a product of a society that takes pride in cheating and lawlessness. I am sure there are many more siting on important post and willing to let Pakistan down for their individual gains. Surey Palace is one example of that behaviour.
Most people with the “Ban him for life” opinion have not read the transcript of the hearings.
For treating sensationalized headlines as gospel, those people should be banned for life.
Evidence against Asif was insufficient for conviction: His no-ball was marginal. There were only two text messages from him and none were incriminating. I’m not sure if any money was found on him either.
Herschelle Gibbs had been more guilty. There is an immense difference between spot-fixing and match-fixing, though that is not taken into account either. 1 year ban for match fixing and 5 year ban for spot-fixing.
Asif should not have been banned, he should have been on probation and he should’ve been made to complete a course on sportsmanship and the perils of spot-fixing.