Britain, September 09: The controversial Pakistani pacer Md Asif, involved in spot-match-fixing, has been considering political asylum in Britain, fearing a violent backlash in Pakistan.
According to a media report, Asif had a meeting with an immigration lawyer in this regard. He reportedly discussed the way to stay in Britain and asylum process.
Asif has been in England for the investigation into the match-fixing scandal exposed by a leadinmg British Tabloid.
The media report claimed that the Pakistani cricketer fears that he may face attack from the illegal betting gang members in Pakistan and also fears backlash from cricket fans.
Asif along with skipper Salman Butt and young pacer Md Aamer have been facing the charges of match-fixing.
However, the trio has been waiting for the investigation report of Scotland Yard in this connection.
The latest report said that Asif is waiting for “the results of investigations by Scotland Yard and the International Cricket Council, to which he expressed his innocence, before taking any asylum claim further.”
Immigration experts said Asif had a good chance of getting asylum if he can prove a considerable threat to his life.
The lawyer, with whom Asif spoke, said the bowler looked “very anxious”.
“I think he’s just worried about the backlash at home, that’s what he told me,” he said.
“There’s been a lot of talk and there are undercover betting mafias with a lot of power that seemed to be what he was worried about.
“If he wants to go forward then we will see what we can do for him,” he added.
—Agencies