Asif says his appeal against suspension withdrawn to give lawyers time for detailed challenge

KARACHI - Pakistani pace bowler Mohammad Asif, one of the tainted trio implicated in spot-fixing scandal, has said he has withdrawn his appeal against his suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) under its anti-corruption code, in order to give his lawyers more time to come up with a ‘detailed challenge’.

“I decided to withdraw the appeal against the suspension for now since we got the detailed documents relating to the case late from the ICC and my lawyers need more time to prepare for a detailed challenge,” The News quoted Asif, as saying to a news agency.

He said he had done nothing wrong, and would eventually contest both the suspension and the spot-fixing allegations. “I am innocent,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, the ICC issued a statement saying that Asif had withdrawn his appeal, and arrangements were now being made for the hearing of Test captain Butt and fast bowler Amir’s challenges against their suspensions in Dubai on October 30 and 31.

“Mohammad Asif confirmed earlier today that he has withdrawn his challenge to the provisional suspension imposed on him on September 2 pending determination of the charges brought against him under the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code,” the ICC statement said.

“Arrangements are now being made for the challenges being made by Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir against their provisional suspensions,” it added.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provisionally suspended Butt, Amir and Asif over claims that they had taken money to deliberately bowl no-balls against England at Lord’s last August.

The players have to go through an ICC hearing over the unspecified charges contained in the governing body’s code of conduct. (ANI)