PCB says Asif’s decision to appeal against ICC ban ‘personal matter’

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refused to react to the decision by banned Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif to pursue his appeal in the International Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland.

The anti-corruption tribunal of the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned Asif and teammates Salman Butt and Mohammed Aamir in early 2011 for their role in the spot fixing scandal that broke out on Pakistan’s tour to England in 2010. “He is fighting his own case and we have nothing to do with it,” a PCB official was quoted as saying. “We have had no contact with Asif or Salman and as far as Aamir is concerned, he has been asked to attend counselling sessions with a sports psychologist appointed by the board. He has so far done three to four sessions with the psychologist,” the official said. Asif, who was found guilty of deliberately bowling a no-ball in return for money in the fourth Test against England at Lord’s, said he had through his lawyer asked the CAS for a date for the appeal hearing, the Daily Times reports. “I don`t know when the date will come, but we have decided to pursue this appeal which we had filed last year but which was not pursued due to the criminal proceedings against me,” Asif said. ANI