Weeks after the youthful Muhammad Amir was released from a juvenile detention centre in Dorset, the second Pakistani fast bowler, Mohammad Asif, caught up in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal has also been released from behind the bars of Canterbury Jail and deported to Pakistan. Asif was made to serve half the 12-month sentence awarded to him.
What is upsetting is that the bowler seems unabashed by his experience. He continues to deny guilt, insisting that the fateful no-ball he bowled at a specific moment in the match came as a result of directions issued to him by Captain Salman Butt to run in faster. The latter, himself, is currently serving a two-and-a-half year sentence. Frankly, Asif’s attempt to affix all blame on Butt is hard to believe. While Amir had the cover of youth, making it easier to believe he may have been coerced into wrongdoing, this does not hold true for the more experienced Asif. The hearing of the case had also tersely noted that he may well have been involved in past fixing scandals even though there is no proof of this. In such a scenario, focusing on legal flaws in the case and pointing fingers at others seems like an act of cowardice. Asif’s past records also include involvements in drug scandals, which do little to build credibility for the talented bowler.
The release of Asif and the consequent refocus on the fixing business should be seen as a wake-up call for cricket in Pakistan. During the months spent in detention by its cricketers, the Pakistan Cricket Board should have been putting in place a long-term strategy to tackle the problem. The issue is, of course, an international one; the lust for money is universal. But we can make some effort to avoid future embarrassment against this menace and also setting in place mechanisms to both inculcate values in youthful cricketers and offer them an escape route when they find they are being pulled into the fixing trap by forces within or outside the team they represent.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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There is a huge difference in the attitude that Aamir showed and what Asif is showing right now. I hope Asif never gets a chance to see another cricket pitch! He is a hardened criminal and should have served his full sentence. I can only pray that the officials at every level in cricket have the ethics to never even consider him for a team.
When innocent labors who are sent by the agents on fake visa come back to Pakistan they are put in jail. Why this hardened criminal not put in jail? He has no remorse, in fact the only remorse he has is being caught on the camera and not being cautious. What a shame, he got away with so little jail time. If he were tried in a Pakistani court he would not even be jailed. At a min he should be banned for life to make any kind of relationship with cricket.
Poor old Aamir his youth is helping him cover his misgivings, His multi million pound Kothi in defence area of Lahore suggests he has had mucky fingers for longer than he is letting on.
They were all at fault but at least Aamir comes off as embarassed by his actions and trying to learn and move forwards. Asif appears unashamed , probably because he has got so used to getting away with it.
i seriuously hope asif and hisl ikes never touch the bat, including aamir and zulqi
this is the same guy who was caught with marijuana in his wallet in dubai...and he gave most ridiculous defensive statement to the authorities, "its not marijuana its hakeem ki dawa"
Given his lack of acceptance and remorse for his actions, I sincerely hope that Muhammad Asif never plays first-class cricket again. He is a disgrace to Pakistan.
'Besharam' and 'beghairat' is now back in our midst. Wish he could have served full term of his sentence.
As normal the pakistani authorities have failed to take any action against Pakistani criminals and left it up to the British to dispense justice, just like we fail to deal with extremists and leave it up to the US drones!
I agree with your analysis but when it comes to remedial measures, the PCB is neither seen committed nor showing evidence that match-fixing will not be repeated. Its the culture of PCB and the country at large that nothing serious is done. Note that PCB is asking Amer to join training sessions on ICC anti match-fixing rules, when he should not be allowed to come close to cricketing matters. Similarly PCB and Pakistani public at large - have difficulty in deciphering legal from illegal - and they will pardon Asif in some shape or form. The courts will provide them with legal cover. That may be fine in Pakistan and with PCB as they have no credibility and no one will play matches in Pakistan.