LONDON:
Pakistan's former fast bowler Mohammad Asif will walk free tomorrow
morning (Thursday) from Britain's Canterbury Prison after completing his
one-year sentence for alleged spot-fixing during the 2010 Lord's Test
match against England, Geo News can exclusively reveal.
Savita
Sukul of the SJS Solicitors - Asif's lawyer in charge of his
immigration matters and his appeal against the International Cricket
Council (ICC) ban - succeeded in finally convincing the Home Office
through competent representations on Tuesday afternoon that Asif should
not be deported to Pakistan and should be admitted to bail in his own
right.
It can be revealed that Muhammad Asif has been allowed by
the Home Office to remain in the UK not only to pursue his appeal
against the spot-fixing convictions but as a result of his lawful rights
to reside in the UK until his appeal is completed against his
conviction as those convictions are not final until they have been
sanctioned by the highest court in the land.
Asif's Barrister Ravi
Sukul, who is dealing with the conviction appeal told Geo News in an
exclusive interview: "In a matter of hours, Asif will bed released and I
am proud to say that. His release from the Canterbury Prison is
imminent. We look forward to seeing him. He will assist us with his
fight to restore what was once a brilliant reputation that he had."
It
can also be disclosed that Asif will stay with his friend Muhammad
Haroon, Asif's friend and Britain's first Asian level-4 cricket coach
who is based in Peterborough.
Ravi Sukul explained that the
grounds that supported Asif's bail application were prepared and
submitted by his solicitor Savita Sukul. Those grounds argued that the
former ICC top Ranking test fast bowler is a man of international
popularity who should be allowed freedom and the authorities should have
no fear of him absconding or not attending the court. "It's on common
sense basis. Those fears should not be engaged by the prosecution or by
the police. There is nothing in his record that could indicate that that
will not abide by the court's directions. These representations
persuaded the Home Office to make a decision that Asif will be a free
man once he leaves the doors of the Canterbury prison," said ravi Sukul,
a well-known criminal barrister.
Speaking about the next phase of
the battle to help his client clear his name, Ravi said that he will
now perfect the grounds of appeal against the conviction under English
law. "I need to convince three Judges sitting in the Court of Appeal
that Asif's convictions are unsafe. I can continue my efforts to do that
now in a meaningful way as I will have Asif next to me, assisting me
with several technical aspects of the appeal. Hopefully the judges
sitting in that court may allow the appeal and quash his convictions."
Ravi
believed that certain procedures may not have been applied during the
trial to Asif's benefit which could have persuaded the jury to come to a
different conclusion. It's the absence of those matters that has made
me come to the conclusion that this trial may been a travesty of
justice. The Court of Appeal may hear evidence which was not put before
the jury."
Ravi said Asif is the kind of man who bowls no ball
more regularly than other pace bowlers because of the type of bowler
that he is. This is a mathematical fact. He was expected to bowl two no
balls at Lords on mathematics principles, which is exactly what he did.
There
is other evidence that could be admitted which explain the full
dynamics of fast bowling, and the legitimate reasons why a bowler would
innocently overstep the bowling crease"
He said Amir's guilty plea
"could have" affected the decision on Asif depending on how the jury
considered Amir's guilty. The legal significance of that plea is that
Amir admitted he had conspired with other people. It may be that the
jury linked Amir with Asif during their deliberations.
Upon
hearing the news that he has been granted bail in the UK, said Ravi,
some semblance of natural emotion came to Asif. "He was thankful. He has
been in prison since November and was expected to be put in the Home
office custody and the news that he will be a free man to walk the
streets and be with his friends is indeed a pleasant news for him, his
family and his supporters to whom he expressed his thanks."
