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LAHORE: Banned pace bowler Mohammad Asif will meet chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shaharyar M. Khan on Friday in an attempt to benefit from a new International Cricket Council (ICC) rule.
According to a new rule announced by the ICC recently, suspended players can be allowed to feature in domestic competition a few months before they complete the ban on all cricket.
The 31-year-old Asif, who visited the Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday, told reporters that he had been given time to meet the chairman on Friday.
He said he would appeal to PCB chairman to allow him to complete the rehabilitation programme — a compulsory requirement to benefit from the new rule introduced by the world governing body.
Right-armer Asif, who played 23 Tests and 38 ODIs between 2005 and 2010, along with then captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir, was banned for different terms by the ICC for their involvement in a spot-fixing scam that surfaced during Pakistan’s 2010 tour to England.
While Salman was handed a ten-year ban, Asif and Amir received seven- and five five-year suspensions, respectively.
The suspension of Asif and Salman could be reduced to five years, in case they complete the rehab programme, to be conducted under PCB supervision.
Amir was banned for five years — the minimum punishment under the ICC rules — so no relaxation was given to him.
However, as he has cooperated with the ICC and turned approver, his case was sent to the ICC to get him cleared for domestic cricket. The left-arm pacer’s five-year ban completes in September 2015.
Published in Dawn, November 21th, 2014
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Comments (32) Closed
Nov 21, 2014 09:18am
& this line ant attitude towards these players would be a disaster for cricket.
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Nov 21, 2014 09:49am
Out of all 3 of them Asif is the biggest crook. He took steroids, got arrested in Dubai with drugs and then fixing. I mean the guy is criminal minded and I don't think will change. I used to get furious when TV channels in Pakistan would call them on talk shows and talk to them like they are celebrities. I think it's high time we appreciate the Junaids, Talhas and Rahats who have been working hard for the last 3 to 4 years to earn their spot. Asif as a bowler was no doubt a true gem. I remember his spell in South Africa when he bowled 10 straight overs to earn Pakistan the win but if brought back in the team, I have no doubt he will do something foolish again. For him fixing was the last strike!
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Nov 21, 2014 09:51am
Don't take him back please.
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Nov 21, 2014 11:06am
PCB chief should not waste his time with the criminals who have cheated and shamed the nation. He should rather focus on new talent who have integrity.
We should all strongly oppose the move for back door infiltration of criminals in the team. There should be Zero tolerance on this issue.
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Nov 21, 2014 12:26pm
PCB is trying to make a distinction make between a "good crook" and a "bad crook". This is not only unjust but also creates a bad precedent in Pakistani sports which has been relatively clean so far. Please do not let it join the ranks of our highly blemished politics, finance, journalism, governance, judiciary and even religion.
Pakistanis should be spared whimsical decisions the consequences of which would be far reaching into our national psyche. There are no "good crooks" or "bad crooks". Only CROOKS.
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Nov 21, 2014 01:59pm
him and salman not only tarnished Pakistan's image for their own selfish personal gains, they also brought a young naive Aamir to the brink of extinction as well. We need good role models in the team, not greedy habitual offenders, drug addicts and opportunistic thugs. Lets make him and Salman a forgotten page of history.
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Nov 21, 2014 04:06pm
Yes yes all the cheaters are always welcome in Nawaz & Zardari's Pakistan.
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Nov 21, 2014 04:14pm
Bhatt and Asif should never be allowed to play again even in the domestic circuit! They have tarnished the image of Pakistan cricket. They deserve no place in cricket! If they ever come to play for any match I would never watch that match!
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Nov 21, 2014 04:45pm
Another shame for Pakistan......But nothing to worry as PCB is full of that kind of people including Najam Sethi.
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Nov 21, 2014 06:41pm
Ban him for another 10 years he deserves it.
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Nov 21, 2014 08:48pm
The fact is that the whole country overall is crook.Short cuts,illegal activity,bribe taking is our way of life. Unless we get reformed( i have ZERO hope for that),making example of these 3 will achieve nothing.
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Nov 21, 2014 09:56pm
@Usman If the PCB chief is responsive to fans' comments / requests then we say please
a thousand times.....please don't take Amir or Asif , any one, because they have dented the image of our country in the world. Remember, your mentor - the PM Nawaz Sharif- used to say that the two sit ins (Dharnaas) have had a bad impact on the image of Pakistan in the world. If sit ins - which are legal by all means - can be termed as damaging for country's image then how come PCB don't consider these highly corrupt and tainted cricketers as a source of damaging the country's image ? And yet all out efforts are being made to bring them back in action. Please...please don't do this...please. Have mercy on our country.
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Nov 21, 2014 10:32pm
There are few crocks in the PCB as well.
To see the three play cricket in any form is bad, and to play for Pakistan, just shows crime pays in Pakistan.
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Nov 21, 2014 10:35pm
@karim Everyone deserves a second chance. One should not be so judgemental..
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Nov 21, 2014 10:37pm
Return of another deadly virus, if Raja's words are to be believed.
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Nov 21, 2014 10:43pm
NO! NO! NO!
Let this be loud and clear........ The Nation does not want convicted crooks in the team. He can do anything he wants on a private level, but he cannot represent our country. Please, do not make a mockery of our country. We have enough problems as it is.
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Nov 21, 2014 11:10pm
No leniency for him, he is the one who seemed to be the most matured crook of the trio and knew how to stay under the radar for a long time... let him finish the full ban. Even after finishing the ban I do not see any value for PCB in bringing back both Salman and Asif any way near them or else they may continue to tarnish Pakistan's reputation. Same goes for Saleem Malik who may not have started spot fixing but made corruption rampant in Pakistan cricket.
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Nov 22, 2014 12:00am
A runaway train
He is quicksand .Will pull the whole team down . This bunch has the negative energy that the boys dont need .
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Nov 22, 2014 12:32am
I can promise you that if investigated 80 % of the officials in PCB will be as corrupt as Asif is. Would that be strange - no not at all because 80 % of all government officials are corrupt on the whole. Aren't they? If I am true than why are they still on their posts, they haven't even served their punishments.
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Nov 22, 2014 12:53am
Oh no ! not again .
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Nov 22, 2014 01:08am
asif and salman were as guilty as amir. if he is being given a chance, then the other two also deserve it. better would be to keep all three out.
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Nov 22, 2014 01:20am
@Burki in money matter, no one is naive..amir cheated..he knew he was doing wrong thing. .so he is not so innocent too.
if he was..he would hv refused n reported to icc.pcb.
Amir wd hv been innocent only if he dint knw he dint knw wat he was doin is illegal.
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Nov 22, 2014 01:23am
NO CHANCE I hope. PCB is wasting time even meeting with M Asif.
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Nov 22, 2014 02:37am
Shame on him. He should never be allowed to play cricket for his country of birth and brought-up because of his highly shameful, grossly immoral, absolutely criminal and totally unethical behavior and actions in the past.
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Nov 22, 2014 04:29am
what benefit seeking, his right place is in jail and that too in a dark corner for the rest of his life for selling the dignity and honor of the country for few pennies whom he was representing.
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Nov 22, 2014 04:31am
@Aziz well siad.
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Nov 22, 2014 04:33am
@Husain Jan fully agree with your point of view.
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Nov 22, 2014 05:54am
Only in Pakistan, would someone like him even be entertained. PCB chairman should be fired for talking to him.
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Nov 22, 2014 06:28am
@muhammed Ali agree with your sentiments he has shown no remorse in his guilt
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Nov 22, 2014 06:38am
@atif - Completely agree for No to all three . Pakistan Cricket has Amazing Talent and this message will help future talent not to get involved again.
Trust on new talent and they will be better than these tented players.. and if you involve these tented, what's the guarantee of their performance in comparison to younger ones?
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Nov 22, 2014 07:18am
According to the justice system, which we follow in Pakistan, India, UK, USA......, anyone who has served his/her time for the crime committed is free to do whatever he/ she pleases as long as it is legal. There are no restrictions. If we follow Islam - Allah also forgives those who repent. Who are we to judge, he has not repented and only making it up.
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Nov 22, 2014 07:55am
Just as before KEEP them out!! Once bitten twice shy !! They are all old hat!! Move on folks !
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