Mohammad Asif speaks on the bad blood he has with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Asif, along with Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt received a ban for spot-fixing matches on England tour in 2010. While Mohammad Amir returned to international cricket, Mohammad Asif was confined to domestic cricket. He accuses PCB of not saving his career, like others.
Speaking with EspnCricinfo, Asif said, “Everyone makes mistakes and I did too. Players had been indulging in fixing before me and even after me. But those before me are working with PCB and there are few after me still playing. Everyone was given a second chance and there are few who never got the same treatment. PCB never tried to save me regardless of the fact that I am the kind of bowler who was highly regarded by everyone in the world.”
ALSO READ: Gautam Gambhir Names Anil Kumble Captain in is all-time India Test XI
Mohammad Asif has 165 wickets across formats to his name in international cricket. The lanky pacer was considered amongst the toughest bowlers by players like Kevin Pietersen and Hashim Amla. However, all that went down the drain as Pakistan’s premier bowled’s career ended due to the spot-fixing ban.
Summering his short career, Asif said, “However much I played in my career, I made it count, duniya hila ke rakh di thi (I shook up the world). That is more important for me to think about. Even today, so many years later, the best batsmen in the world still remember me and they talk about me.”
He added, “Just think how big the impact was that I had on the world. So this is what makes me proud – that there is a reason KP, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla talk highly about me. That is what makes me happy.”
Asif says he isn’t impressed by Amir’s decision to quit Test Cricket and focus only on limited-overs. He says Amir’s decision is wrong after everything PCB has done to bring him back into international cricket.
ALSO READ: Ambati Rayudu Makes a Bold Statement on Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy
He said, “I curse the PCB for how they rescued his (Amir) career. But it was his obligation to help Pakistan cricket in a tough situation and he should have stayed, especially when they had helped him return. If they had done the same with me, then I’d still be available to rescue Pakistan in Test cricket for the next two years. I know there are fitness standards, but I can work that out and whatever is required I can do it.”
