Disgraced Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif says he is ready to face fans’ abuse when he returns to cricket after a five-year ban for spot-fixing, vowing to change their minds with his performances.
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He started playing domestic cricket again in Pakistan earlier this year.
The three gamers have been discovered responsible in 2011 of varied offences of corrupt behaviour and their punishments have been backdated to begin in September 2010.
Butt, Asif and Amir were banned for 10 (five years suspended), seven (two years suspended) and five years respectively, after an ICC tribunal found them guilty of spot-fixing in a case stemming from the 2010 Lord’s Test. They all also served jail sentences in Britain.
“I’m not in a position to talk on the subject in detail as some instructions from the ICC are to be followed, but I’m thankful to all who guided and supported me in those testing days of my life”. Salman will now turn out for the Lahore Blues in the upcoming National Twenty20 Cup, where Blues will play the qualifying round.
All three will be eligible to play global cricket from next month.
“The fact that Pakistan has pulled out of the tri-series is simply not cricket and goes against the spirit of the game”, stated Mani, the ICC president from 2003-2006.
“Unfortunately, since the ICC meddled with the binding nature of the Future Tours Programme (FTP) last year, there is no obligation on any country to stick to commitments made to tour unless these have been confirmed in a binding contact”, said Mani who is of Pakistan origin.
The three players, as well as their agent Mazhar Majeed, were also convicted for their wrongdoings in a London court.
Amir, 23, has already returned to domestic cricket after being given special permission by the worldwide Cricket Council to resume his career after pleading guilty and working in anti-corruption education.
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They added that while Butt has completed the requirements of ICC, there are certain obligations with the PCB which need to be fulfilled before he can play in domestic cricket. Salman became the Test captain at 26, Asif had somehow come back from doping suspensions to continue being a threat to any seasoned batsman on any surface, and Aamir was considered the hottest fast bowling prospect in the world.
