Mohammad Asif opens up firing on PCB
The fast bowler, Mohammad Asif from Pakistan, was banned back in 2011 along with his other mates one of which was Mohammad Amir.
The bowlers were involved in a spot-fixing scandal in the match against England and faced jail as well. When the trio of Asif, Salman Butt, and Amir was eligible to play again from the national side, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dealt differently with all of them, and only Amir was welcomed again in the team.
Amir recently retired from Test cricket to focus more on shorter formats. His this act mocked him badly as many cricketers criticized him saying that he is the one who plays for the money. Asif has claimed a similar thing and says that he retired from Test cricket when the team needed him this most.
Mohammad Asif opens up firing on PCB
Asif has mentioned that the board has not done well by saving his career and by dealing differently with the rest of us.
“I curse the PCB for how they rescued his career. It was his obligation to help Pakistan cricket in a tough situation and he should have stayed, especially when they had helped him return,” Asif said.
“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,” Asif told ESPNCricinfo.
“Everyone was given a second chance and there are few who never got the same treatment as me. 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,” he added.
“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,” he said.
He also revealed that Shoaib Akhtar, the former Pakistani bowler, was afraid to bowl in front of Indian bowlers in Karachi test back in 2006 and has credited himself for teaching Akhtar how to ball under pressure.
In a session, Asif reminded his past memories of Karachi test where he did a majestic spell against Indians and grabbed Laxman twice, whereas, Tendulkar, Sehwag, and Rahul once.
“So my all spells were good, but if I had to narrow it down, I’d remember the Karachi Test against India. The biggest batting line-up of the time,” said Asif in an interview with ESPN.
“I remember Shoaib Akhtar in the dressing room worrying about how we’d get them out. I just got them out and showed him. So that particular game I remember,” he added.
Also, see:
MS Dhoni didn’t want to play for some time: MSK Prasad
