No evidence against me, says Mohammad Asif
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif on Friday said there had been no
evidence for his conviction in Britain for corruption and spot-fixing, a
day after he was released following six months in prison.
"I spent the six months under difficult circumstances," Asif told
Pakistan's Geo television in London, in his first public remarks since
being freed from Canterbury jail on Thursday after serving half his
12-month prison term.
"But despite the difficulties, I kept my fitness and I am thankful to
my fans and family for supporting me during this difficult phase," he
said.
The 29-year-old was jailed by a London court in November after being
found guilty of conspiring to cheat and conspiring to accept corrupt
payments over deliberate no-balls during the Lord's Test against England
in August 2010.
Team-mate Mohammad Aamer was released in February, while former Test
captain Salman Butt is still serving his 30-month term in the same
prison from which Asif was released.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) separately banned the trio
from playing all cricket for five years.
"I was shocked when I was handed that 12-month jail term, and when
they termed me guilty I was very surprised because there was no evidence
against me," said Asif.
He expressed hope that his lawyer, Ravi Sukul, can overturn the ICC
ban.
"I am fitter than before because I was using the gym and although I
didn't get to play much cricket, I played badminton and football," said
Asif, confident he could still bowl as well as ever.
"You don't tell a fish how to swim, so I have not forgot how to
bowl." Once considered a fast-rising talent, Asif twice failed dope
tests, in 2006 and 2008, the second during the inaugural Indian Premier
League season which ended in one-year ban.
He was also detained in Dubai for 19 days in June 2008 for possession
of a banned drug. AFP |