Spot-fixing convict Asif due for release 5 May

KARACHI (AFP): Pakistan’s former paceman Mohammad Asif is expected to be released from a British prison on May 5 after completing half his one-year sentence for spot-fixing during the 2010 Lord’s Test against England, a friend and cricket coach said Tuesday.

“Asif is due to be released on May 5 and he was in high spirits when I visited him last month,” Mohammad Haroon told AFP from London.

The 29-year-old Asif, along with teammates Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamer, was sentenced in London last November for contriving deliberate no-balls for cash during the August 2010 Test.

Aamer was released in February after three months in jail. Butt, Test captain at that time, was jailed for 30 months.

Mazhar Majeed, the agent for three players who was accused of striking the deal, was jailed for 32 months.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) also banned the three players for a minimum of five years.

Haroon said Asif was appealing against both punishments.

“Asif has already appealed against the 12-month sentence and he will also appeal against the ICC ban,” said Haroon.

All three players have the right to appeal against the ICC ban in the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sports.

Aamer, who pleaded guilty in the London court, last month appeared in an ICC video to warn future players against fixing. Like Aamer, Asif was also considered as one of the fastest rising paceman at the international level.

Before his ban, Asif had taken 106 wickets in 23 Tests. He also had 46 wickets in 36 one-day internationals.