LONDON:
Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif said he was 'surprised' when he was
found guilty by the jury at Southwark Crown Court after the spot fixing
trial in November last year, after which he was sent to prison alongside
fellow players Salman Butt and Muhammad Amir.
In his
exclusive interview to Geo News and Jang Group of Newspapers after his
release from Canterbury Prison in Kent on Thursday, the former world
number two Test fast bowler expressed his joy at being released and not
being deported to Pakistan, vowing that he was determined to clear his
name and be back on the field again. “I couldn’t believe that I was
found guilty by the jury,” said the ace cricketer who vehemently denies
any part in the spot-fixing that rocked the world of cricket.
Accompanied
by Ravi Sukul of Balham Chambers, who is dealing with Asif’s criminal
conviction appeal in the UK, and Savita Sukul of SJS Solicitors, who
argued successfully against Asif’s deportation to Pakistan and is in
conduct of the International Cricket council ban, Asif expressed his
resolve that his legal team will look into any “legal errors” in his
case and will attempt to redress the legal mistakes. Asif said he will
not speak about any matter which will prejudice his upcoming appeals and
would prefer his legal team to deal with such matters. “I am hopeful
that I will come out of the problem that I found myself in unwittingly.”
At
the Southwark Crown Court former Test captain Salman Butt, 27, was
jailed for two and a half years for his role as the "orchestrator" of a
plot to bowl deliberate no-balls in the2010 Lord's Test against England;
Mohammad Amir, 19, who had been tipped to become one of the all-time
great fast bowlers, was given six-month sentence.
Mazhar Majeed, 36, the London-based sports agent at the heart of the fixing scandal, was jailed for two years and eight months.
Asif
said he was able to serve half a12-month sentence for his part in the
spot-fixing scam by keeping himself busy in the gym and by regularly
playing football and badminton.
Simple, easy going and
professional, Asif continues to plead that he had nothing to do with the
spot-fixing scam and he found himself caught with the fellow players
only by association.
“Thanks to Almighty Allah. I am out from the prison. I am really happy, I have seen very hard time,” said the genius bowler.
Asif
saw his release as a landmark step as he begins a new battle to clear
his name. He thanked his fans and well-wishers for standing by him in
the time of trials and tribulations. “I am so happy I have fans who are
still supporting me in this way, through social media. I am in touch
with them. They wanted to see me on the ground playing again.”
Looking
relaxed, jolly and in super-fit shape, Muhammad Asif described how
difficult in the beginning it was at the prison, which is reserved for
foreign national criminals, who are normally deported soon after the
completion of their sentencing.
The ace cricketer didn’t play much
cricket in the prison because there were not many Cricket-supporting
facilities but concentrated on staying fit by playing badminton and
football. “These 6 months were difficult. Canterbury has a lot of
foreign national prisoners but it has lots of gym and supporting
facilities. We got ourselves busy and the time passed. We played
football and badminton and used gym regularly. I trained regularly and I
am in good shape now. The staff in the Canterbury were very
supportive.”
Asif paid tribute to his family for supporting him
and having faith in him, especially his father Hassan Deen, who has
defiantly defended his son, and his loyal wife. “My family has been
brilliant. No other family can defend the way they did it. My father has
provided crucial support to me at a very difficult time. They took
charge of a very difficult situation and all is fine. When in prison, I
remained in touch with my family and my legal team.”
Answering a
question on how he plans to regain his once glorious skill and ability
to play the first class cricket, Asif remarked: “A fish will never
forget how to swim. A bowler doesn’t forget how to bowl well. I have
maintained fitness and I will try my best to keep up with this level of
fitness. I am thankful to all those who have prayed for me. I would like
to be back in the ground playing and I hope my fans will soon see me
back. I would like my fans and well-wishers to continue praying for me,”
said Asif with confidence.
Asif said the credit for successfully
convincing the Home Office to let him stay in the United Kingdom and
launch the appeals went to his legal team. “The support offered by my
legal team was brilliant. They made me feel comfortable when I was in
prison. I would wish to have many dedicated supporters like this. Times
good and bad pass but I have been able to recognise who is with me and
who is not."
