There was once a time when Mohammad Asif was perhaps the best pacer in the world. The Pakistani pacer was known for his swinging ability and outfoxing batsmen with that. However, after being found guilty of fixing 7 years ago, Asif was banned from cricket for 5 years—and he has been trying to get in the team ever since.

But his road to redemption is filled with obstacles as the PCB are continuously overlooking his ability. And Asif, who is been playing in the domestic circuit for the last two years, claims that he “regrets his actions” and believes that the board are just two-faced.   

“What I did seven years back was wrong and I regret it,” said Asif as quoted by The News PK.

“I have served my full punishment and done all that was required of me under the ICC anti-corruption code. However, not once has anyone in the board or National Cricket Academy bothered to even call me and check about my fitness or form.

“I have performed in two seasons and I am fit. I am ready to take any fitness test or undergo intensive training. But the board appears to have double standards.”

Asif was left particularly baffled at the board snubbing him and Salman Butt—who was also banned for 5 years on the same charges—while giving Mohammad Amir a shot in the team once again.

“They can allow Mohammad Amir back into the Pakistan team without any notable comeback performances and support him but for me or Salman Butt, they do not want to touch us and give us another chance in the national team even though we have done well.”

He then called for the board to treat all the players equally and also revealed that all three players—him, Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir—were equally guilty for what happened 7 years back.

You can not treat players differently. I do not want to go into details but all three of us were equally responsible for what happened seven years back in England.”

The insistence of the Pakistan board to overlook the notorious pacer is understandable. Asif is a character that has always attracted controversy. From being caught at the airport with illegal drugs to an infamous affair with a top actress, he has been through it all—and it is for this reason why the board find it hard to trust him again.

“You never know with Asif what might happen next. And now we have lot of pace options and he has got on with age,” a source close to the selectors said.