Asif admits that he had made mistakes in spot fixing issue but feels 5 year ban is too much..

[Blue Panther]

KARACHI: Pakistan's banned pacer Mohammad Asif believes the PCB did not do enough to save him and two other banned players -- Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamer -- from the punishment handed down to them for spot-fixing by the ICC's anti-corruption tribunal. "I am not blaming the PCB for what happened but certainly they and even the government could have done more to save us from such a long ban," Asif said on 'Geo TV'. "If the Board wanted, they could have stepped in when the spot fixing scandal broke out and handled things themselves. They should have sent us home immediately and then tried us themselves instead of allowing the ICC to take charge," Asif said. He also felt that the Pakistan government did not play a pro-active in dealing with the whole issue. "I know there are regulations and other things that could have been used by the government to fly us back to Pakistan and then have us face the music at home instead of being left at the mercy of the ICC tribunal," he said. Throughout the show, Asif, 28, who took 106 wickets in 23 Tests, kept hinting he should not have been punished. The three Pakistani players were banned for a minimum of five years by the ICC tribunal last February on charges of spot-fixing during the fourth Test against England at Lord's last year. The ICC suspended the trio few days after the defunct 'News of the World' tabloid broke the story about the trio being involved with their Pakistani agent Mazhar Majeed in fixing issues during the series. Asif admitted that he had made some mistakes but felt the five year ban was too heavy a price to pay. "I can't say more on this because I have appealed against the ban and also in October I am hopeful that the case will be dismissed and I can get back to playing cricket," he said. Asif and his two other teammates are due to appear again in a London magistrate court to face charges of corruption and cheating brought against them by the crown prosecutor's office in the United Kingdom as a fall out of the spot fixing scandal. Asif said he had still not given up hope of playing for Pakistan again. "I don't know but the situation can change very quickly and I think October will be important to my case. But I am carrying on training and even practicing because I know the comeback chance to international cricket could come," he said. Asked about the various controversies that have dogged him including the 19-day detention at the Dubai airport for possession of a banned substance, Asif reiterated he had not taken any drugs. "I had a herbal medicine with me that contained percentage of opium and that got me into trouble but now I can go to Dubai as there is no bar on me from travelling there," he said. The lanky pace bowler conceded that not being able to play any cricket was a big punishment for him. "Because my life revolves around cricket and not being able to play the game is very punishing indeed," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Asif-blames-PCB-for-spot-fixing-ban/articleshow/9835391.cms What an idiot....:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[mrinalmech]

I had a herbal medicine with me that contained percentage of opium :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[kabira]

Did they even go on record and apologize to people of Pakistan atleast if not entire cricketing community??

[Lord]

5? I thought it was 10?5 was for Amer,no?

[Cricket Tragic]

5? I thought it was 10?5 was for Amer' date='no?[/quote'] Nah, it's 5 for both of them unless they violate the terms of their ban.

[Desi Cartman]

What ?

[gaurav92]

:cantstop:

[BoomBoomAfridi]

A true artist with the ball. Such a shame.

[Crookbond]

Asif confesses to spot-fixing

"I accept the punishment from the ICC tribunal in 2011," Asif said at a press conference. "I apologise for my actions that have brought disrespect to my beloved country, to the millions of fans in Pakistan and in the world. When I look back at the events of my career, I feel very sorry. "I request all the players who want to represent their country that they must keep away from all sorts of corruption," he added. "I am ready to help any player who wants to avoid such pitfalls. I will duly cooperate with the ICC, its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) and with the PCB, in fighting corruption in the game."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/story/662335.html

[Cricketics]

I won't mind seeing them back. Hopefully these guys have realized and will serve as good example for all future cricketers along with current ones. Let's bring it back and see what they got. No harm in giving someone another chance.

[Sidhoni]

Didn't Butt also confess in the past month or so?

[Iconoclast]

Asif is a terrible person .. but still I wouldn't mind seeing him wreck Indian batting again in two years time

[SLICKR392]

They better stay away fron the game. Being a Paki, you never know if they would repeat those 'no balls' again.

[vvvslaxman]

Reduce it to 4 years 363 days

[jf1gp_1]

Asif is a terrible person .. but still I wouldn't mind seeing him wreck Indian batting again in two years time

Ignore the masses, do you as an individual want to see a man like asif represent Pakistan ?

[Iconoclast]

Only if he comes clean about all the fixing that went on ... Everyone knows those noballs were just the tip of the iceburg. Specifically, he and Aamir should be hooked up to a lying test machine and be quizzed about the Sydney test.

[FischerTal]

wasted tailunt.... he could have been competing with steyn today for number one test bowler spot . he would have been deadly in south africa.... alas paise ki lalach aakir lag gayi :headshake: