Asif maintains his innocence after release from prison – Cricket News Update
Pakistani medium-pacer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Amir-c76675, who was part of the trio which was sentenced for being involved in spot-fixing, was released on Thursday, May 3, and spoke today about the hard time he spent in prison, insisting that he had been convicted without any
evidence.
"I spent the six months under difficult circumstances, I was shocked when I was handed that 12-month jail term, and when they termed me guilty I was very surprised because there was no evidence against me,” claimed the 29-year-old medium pacer, who, along
with the then skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, in 2010.
A now defunct British tabloid, News of the World, carried out a sting operation against a bookie, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mazhar-c75448 Majeed, who agreed to have the Pakistani bowlers deliver no balls at specific times in lieu of huge sums of money. The video footage emerged after the
match, which had witnessed the no balls in question.
The Crown court in England heard testimonies, and after reviewing evidence, sentenced everyone involved. The skipper, Salman Butt, was said to be the ‘orchestrator’ and hence got the harshest punishment of the three, being imprisoned for two and a half years.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Amir, who was the youngest of the three, and an immensely talented left-handed bowler, got the most lenient sentence, which he finished serving in February this year, at a young offender’s institute.
Asif, who was sentenced to 12-months, was freed this week, after he had served six months. The right-handed medium pacer, who has 106 Test wickets to his name, shared how he remained fit in prison, despite going through testing times, and how he is still
fit to deliver at the highest stage of the game.
“I am fitter than before because I was using the gym and although I didn't get to play much cricket, I played badminton and football. You don't tell a http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ian-Douglas-Fisher-c63819 how to swim, so I have not forgot how to bowl,” shared a determined Asif.
Despite the release of both Amir and Asif, the two still cannot feature in the national side, as they have been banned from all forms of the game for 5 years, by the International Cricket Council.
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