KARACHI: Pakistan fast bowler and pacer Mohammad Asif has finally said “sorry” and admired he was guilty of spot fixing during Pakistan’s tour to England in 2010.
The 30-year-old, who kept denying any wrongdoing even after serving a jail term in England for corruption and was slapped with a minimum five-year ban from the sport by the International Cricket Council (ICC), came clean on Wednesday.
“Today I admit what I did was wrong and I am ashamed for bringing disgrace to my family and my country. I apologise to the nation and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB),” Asif told reporters.
Asif along with team mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir were found guilty of corruption by a British criminal court and were also banned from cricket by the ICC for spot fixing during a 2010 Lord’s test between Pakistan and England.
Asif chose Pakistan’s Independence Day to make his confession.
“I feel sorry for what has happened. I don’t know what is going to happen now that I have admitted everything. But my conscience is clear now,” Asif said.
“I have gone through a lot in the last few years but I brought it upon myself and I deserved the punishment I got.”
Asif, who captured 106 wickets in 23 tests before his career derailed, said he wanted to make sure the next generation learnt from his mistakes.
“I want to play a role now in at least warning the younger players off the pitfalls of corruption and fixing,” he said. “I want to tell them don’t step into the path of corruption.”
