Pakistan Cricket Update: Asif Withdraws Suspension Challenge
In a surprising U-turn of events, suspended Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif has decided to withdraw his appeal against the punishment handed out to him by the International Cricket Council.
Asif along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamer were to appear before an ICC commission on the 30th and 31st of this month at Doha, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Qatar-c2986 where their appeals were to be heard.
The trio was suspended after their alleged involvement in the spot fixing scandal that shocked the cricketing world during http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s tour of England.
The scandal came to the fore during the fourth and final test match of the series at Lords, where the two pacers Asif and Aamer allegedly bowled deliberate no-balls with the assistance of their captain Salman Butt.
In a press release sent this morning the ICC announced that they had received intimation from Asif regarding his withdrawal.
Mohammad Asif confirmed earlier today that he has withdrawn his challenge to the provisional suspension imposed on him on 2 September 2010 pending determination of the charges brought against him under the ICC's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 30th and 31st October 2010.
The ICC will not make any further comment at this stage.
There was no explanation given by Asif or his lawyer on their decision to withdraw their appeal. By not challenging the ruling, Asif is now effectively waiting for a clearance from the ICC who are probing the allegations on their own.
On the other hand, there is an investigation underway by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756 Yard who themselves have not come out with any proof against any player yet.
It is pertinent to mention here that the three tainted players are fighting the battle on their own after the PCB withdrew their support after a direct order from the ICC.
After the intervention by the governing body of the game, the three players were also stopped from training at the Qaddafi stadium in Lahore or utilise the facilities at the National Cricket Academy that is adjacent to the venue.
Interestingly, the appeal will now take place at Dubai rather than Doha, the reason for scheduling the proceedings at Doha was the ban on Asif’s travel to UAE after he was caught with drugs in his wallet a couple of years ago, upon his return from Dubai.
Meanwhile speculations are rife that Asif withdrew his appeal upon legal advice from his lawyers who feel that the ICC does not have enough evidence against them and are going to clear him any way. They feel that by lodging an appeal the due process would
be delayed further, which is not in the pace man’s favour.
On the other hand, a source in the Pakistan Cricket Board revealed that the tainted trio is set to be cleared soon and would be available for selection immediately.
Yet it would be tough to accommodate them in the tour of UAE, where Pakistan would be taking on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 for a five match ODI series, besides two T20s and two test matches.
After the tour of UAE, the men in green are scheduled to embark upon a gruelling tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 where they will play two tests six ODIs and three T20 matches.
The tour would be their last assignment before the 2011 World Cup that is set to take place in the sub-continent from the 19th of February. The Pakistanis would be strengthened considerably if the three return for the World Cup.
Tags: