Asif’s case goes to Court of Appeal

LONDON: Muhammad Asif has repeated his complete denial of any agreement to bowl a no ball at Lord’s on August 26, 2010, by way of his appeal papers launched against both of his convictionsófor involvement in conspiracy to cheat and accepting the corrupt money.
Asif, who was the 2nd best bowler in ICC Test ranking in July 2010, is resolute in his contention that he did not bowl the no ball intentionally and that he has never accepted any money from the News of the World journalist Mazher Mahmood.
Asif’s new barrister Ravi Sukul of Balham Chambers confirmed that his client’s appeal documents have been filed. “Fresh and novel evidence is being assembled to support the fast bowler’s appeal against conviction. A hearing date will be announced as soon as it is known,” Sukul stated.
Since the beginning of police investigation, Asif has insisted that he played no part in the spot-fixing conspiracy, encouraged and recorded by the now-defunct weekly paper, which was closed in disgrace after phone-hacking and illegal calls interceptions was found rife at the paper.
“Prosecution evidence presented at the fast bowler’s trial disclosed that not one note of the marked money paid to Majeed was found in Asif’s room, or on his person or in his bank account,” Sukul told The News.
The practices adopted by the NOTW to obtain stories have been widely condemned all over the world, and their exposure has damaged media mogul Rupert Murdoch, perhaps irreparably. The paper was shut down after it was disclosed that it hacked countless phones, harassed people, set traps and made the lives of celebrities hell, especially those who refused to agree to the NOTW demands.
His lawyer said that despite the illegal interception of private telephone communications, the NOTW could not provide the prosecution with any text messages or any phone conversations implicating Asif into any wrong doing whatsoever. “The former ICC top Ranking test fast bowler is filled with the resolve that he will prove the 1.5 inch popping crease overstep no ball he bowled was never any part of any agreement he had with anyone.”
On November 23, the Court of Appeal presided over by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord Judge dismissed the appeals made by former Pakistani captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammed Amir and maintained their sentences handed out by Justice Mr Cook at the Southwark Crown Court. Both cricketers appealed against their respective prison sentences only, not their convictions. Asif did not join those two appeals. His case is to be distinguished on evidential grounds.