Mohammad Asif Admits Spot-fixing Wrongdoing, Stevens Confirms Corruption Charge

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has for the first time admitted his role in the notorious 2010 spot-fixing scandal.

Asif was jailed along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir after they were found guilty of bowling deliberate no balls in return for money during the Lord’s Test against England.

All three denied the charges but Butt and Amir subsequently admitted their guilt and apologised and Asif has now joined them.

An anti-corruption tribunal of the International Cricket Council (ICC) later banned Butt from the sport for 10 years, with five suspended, Asif for seven years with two suspended and Amir for five years.

The tribunal had made confession, apology and rehabilitation mandatory to avoid the suspended portion of the ban.

“I accept the punishment from the ICC tribunal in 2011,” Asif said. “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 to all the players who want to represent their countries that they must keep away from all sorts of corruption.

“I am ready to help any player who wants to avoid such pitfalls. I will duly cooperate with the ICC, its anti-corruption unit and with the PCB in fighting the corruption in the game.”

Stevens Confirms Charge

Also Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens has confirmed he is one of nine players charged following an ICC investigation into match-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Stevens is one of two players charged with failing to declare a “corrupt approach.”

The other seven are charged with fixing matches. The charges follow a probe by the ICC into the Dhaka Gladiators franchise.

The ICC’s anti-corruption unit believes Stevens was not involved in fixing matches, but failed to declare that he had been approached.

In a statement Stevens said: “I confirm that I have been charged by the ICC with a failure to report a corrupt approach made to me during BPL2 in February this year.

“I have not been involved in any corrupt activity and have not been charged with any and I am co-operating with the ICC and ACSU in their investigation and prosecution of the corruption charges in matters relating to the BPL.

“I am totally against any corruption in cricket and would never do anything other than perform to the best of my ability in any game.

“The ICC have not suspended me from playing and I remain willing and able to play for Kent in all fixtures if selected. As the charge against me is now the subject of disciplinary proceedings I can make no further comment with regard to them at this stage.”

If found guilty Stevens could be banned for between one year and five years.