Misbah eyes more wins in 2012

LAHORE: Pakistan's cricket captain Misbah-ul Haq was full of confidence his fast-rising team will have more success in 2012 after overcoming a spot-fixing scandal and remaining unbeaten last year.

"Through hard work of all the players we had a good 2011 and I hope that this team will have more success in the new year," Misbah said while addressing a reception in honour of his team in Lahore on Thursday night.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hosted the function to honour their team, which kept an unbeaten record though all Tests and one-day series in 2011 -- a difficult period for the side in the wake of a spot-fixing scandal.

The scandal, unearthed by the now defunct News of the World in the UK in 2010, ended in jail terms for Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

Misbah took over as Test captain in September 2010 and led Pakistan to draws in the series against South Africa and the West Indies, and notched wins over New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"I think this success was due to the fact that all 15 players in the squad fulfilled their responsibilities and I am sure they will carry on the good work in the new year," said Misbah.

Pakistan now face a tough opponent in England, who rose to world number one in Test rankings last year. They will play three Tests, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20s in United Arab Emirates.

The first Test starts in Dubai from January 17.

"I am sure the boys will do the same hard work, show responsibility and play to their potential against England who are the best Test team at the moment," said Misbah. "We know how tough it is going to be, so we are ready for that."

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf praised the team and announced a cash award of 300,000 rupees ($3300) for each of the 15 players and 100,000 rupees ($1100) for the support staff.

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Asif appeals against ICC ban

 

LONDON: Convicted Pakistani fast bowler Muhammad Asif has, through his lawyers, lodged a formal appeal against his International Cricket Council (ICC) ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Savita Sukul, the Principal of SJS Solicitors, confirmed to The News that her firm has submitted the formal appeal against the ICC seven-year ban. A spokesperson told this scribe: “The appeal has been filed”.

After his imprisonment, following the spot-fixing trial at the Southwark Crown Court in November last year, Asif instructed a new team of UK defence lawyers to represent him at the local and international legal forums in his quest to disprove the spot-fixing allegation. Muhammad Asif is currently spending time at Her Majesty’s Canterbury prison, a category C prison which specialises in housing foreign criminals convicted in Britain. The International Cricket Council (ICC) instituted disciplinary proceedings against Muhammad Asif following an allegation of being involved in a spot-fixing arrangement related to the fourth Test Match between Pakistan and England played at Lordís Cricket Ground in August 2010.

Upon the conclusion of those proceedings in February 2011, the ICC imposed a seven-year ban upon Asif from participating in all forms of the game.

“The appeal filed in the CAS against the ICC ban is founded upon multiple grounds that include the argument that the ICC Disciplinary Tribunal breached its own procedures, and in other ways infringed fundamental human rights to which Muhammad Asif is entitled. In such a situation the ICC ban is not only flawed, it could also be unlawful,” said an SJS Solicitors spokesperson. The CAS will set the date for the appeal hearing in Switzerland.

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