Mohammad Asif withdraws appeal to ICC
In the latest twist to the spot-fixing sag that dogged the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 squad through their tour of England this summer Mohammad Asif has withdrawn his appeal against the provisional suspension handed to him by the ICC.
The fast bowler who, along another bowler, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt, the batsmanand Test captain, was suspended following spot-fixing allegations made during Pakistan's tour of England. The allegations arose from an investigation by the News of the World newspaper in which they organised a sting operation which they claimed uncovered evidence of corruption.
The Lord’s Test, in late August, was at the centre of a spot-fixing controversy (centring around three no-balls bowled at allegedly pre-determined points in the match) reported by the paper.
Now Asif has elected not to contest his provision ban. A statement from the ICC said that: “Mohammad Asif confirmed earlier today that he has withdrawn his challenge to the provisional suspension imposed on him on 2 September 2010 pending determination of the charges brought against him under the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code.
“Arrangements are now being made for the challenges being made by Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir against their provisional suspensions to be heard in Dubai on October 30th and October 2010 31st."
The three players are not in the squad for Pakistan's next series, against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, which is due to be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Even without the ban from the cricket authority, Asif would have been excluded because he is banned from entering the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 after being detained for possession of opium at Dubai airport in 2008.
The Metropolitan police are also still investigating the spot-fixing allegations against the players who all deny any wrongdoing.
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