We all know the context. But different arguments are scattered across multiple threads and so this one is intended to be the place to make those arguments.
Mohammad Asif was banned by the ICC from playing domestic or international cricket from 1 September 2010 to 1 September 2015, with the ICC directing that the PCB provide him with a full rehabilitation within that 5 year period. This ban was for spotfixing 1 no-ball in 2010, but the ICC accepted that his role in the fix was less than that of Mohammad Amir or Salman Butt and the ICC accepted that he received no payment or other reward.
The PCB then prevented him from playing the 2015-16 First Class season on the basis that it had not complied with the ICC direction that it provide Asif with a full rehabilitation program during his ban.
Since that time the entire basis of the convictions, both cricketing and criminal, has been seriously undermined. The convictions were entirely based on video evidence provide by Mazhar Mahmood, the "Fake Sheikh" journalist, who is now himself in prison for falsifying similar evidence in other cases.
The ICC recorded in its 2010 cricket tribunal's findings that Mohammad Asif had a "good record". But we all know better. Don't we?
We all know that he failed a drug test alongside Shoaib Akhtar in 2006-07, and was initially banned for 1 year (with Shoaib Akhtar banned for 2 years) but that this conviction was overturned on appeal, with the conviction being struck out entirely in favour of a finding of "Not Guilty".
He also failed an IPL drug test in 2008 and was given a 1 year ban which the ICC originally intended to extend to apply worldwide, until it was given legal advice that the IPL drug policy was unlawful because it did not comply with WADA regulations. The IPL ban was then unilaterally extended to Pakistan selection by the incoming PCB chief Mr Ijaz Butt, but without any hearing, trial or appeal process. Asif could not appeal because this was an executive decision, not a guilty verdict. And Pakistan had an almost empty calendar anyway for the next year.
In short, we all know that Mohammad Asif had two failed drug tests and a spotfixing ban. But one of the failed drug tests led to the PCB finding him not guilty, the IPL drug ban was never extended beyond the IPL by the ICC because of the IPL drug code's own non-compliance, and the spotfixing conviction was made on the basis of evidence provided by a journalist who is now in prison for falsifying identical evidence in other cases.
You can argue that Mohammad Asif is either very lucky to have only 1 recognized recorded conviction or you can argue that the incompetence or assistance of others has made him into the man against whom nothing ever seems to stick.
So what are the cricketing arguments for and against his recall:
1. ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF A RECALL
a) Asif is the best tall fast-medium bowler that Pakistan has ever had. He is economical, skillful, and does not rely on pace so his age of almost 34 should matter no more than it did for McGrath, Walsh or Ambrose. And the only developing young bowler in this style is Ehsan Adil, who is going nowhere fast.
b) Asif has proved in this year's domestic First Class season that he is exactly the same bowler he was before. Same skills, same pace, and better results: 15 wickets at 21.66, compared with a pre-ban domestic First Class average of 24.66.
c) The right-arm fast bowlers who replaced him in the national team are no youngsters themselves and have had 75 months to secure the position vacated by Mohammad Asif, but they aren't good enough to do so.
d) The other quick bowlers doing well in domestic First Class cricket have had the same 75 months to take the place vacated by Asif, but haven't been good enough to. Tabish Khan is almost 32 and has failed to do so, while Mir Hamza is 24 and is more a competitor for other left-armers like Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali and Junaid Khan.
e) On 14 July the PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan announced that Asif and Salman Butt will be selected if they "break down the door" with their performances. Mohammad Asif has: not just with the video footage which has gone viral but by single-handedly bowling WAPDA into the QEA Final with his spell of 3-0-3-3 when his team only had 55 runs left to defend.
f) Mohammad Asif is the most thoughtful fast bowler that Pakistan has ever had. Surely his advice would help young fast bowlers to develop faster.
g) Has Pakistan got another fast bowler who can turn the screw on the run rate and dry it up completely?
CRICKETING ARGUMENTS AGAINST HIS RECALL
1. Mohammad Asif is almost 34. Even if he lasts a couple of years - he has far less wear and tear on his body than contemporaries like Anderson and Steyn - does it help to pick a veteran like him?
Surely the answer is "you can't seriously say that and then pick Sohail Khan or Tabish Khan".
2. Is he fit enough to play international cricket again?
Maybe, maybe not. But if you accept that he is good enough, then shouldn't his fitness regime and workload be managed by the national team? Can't he be rotated in and out of Tests to keep him fit?
3. Is he good enough in terms of his skills and pace to play Test cricket?
The answer to this is obviously a resounding "Yes". The footage shows that his skills remain intact and that his pace remains where it always was - around that of Vernon Philander.
4. Has he done enough in domestic cricket?
He has taken his wickets at an average of 21.66 compared with 24.66 before his ban. He has bowled WAPDA into the QEA Final when they were staring elimination in the face until his spell of 3-0-3-3.
5. Shouldn't clean cricketers like Tabish Khan be ahead of him in line for selection?
Why on earth would they be? Tabish Khan is 32 next week. He had 6 years and 3 months to secure himself a place in the team while Asif was first legally banned and then obstructed from playing for Pakistan. If he wasn't good enough to get into the team then, why should he leapfrog a player like Asif who is of proven international class?
MORAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST HIS RECALL
1. A lawyer or an accountant would never get a job again after being banned by his professional body. Why is Asif any different?
Firstly, this same argument would require a life ban for Misbah-ul-Haq, who was banned just two weeks ago for a much more recent offence.
Secondly, the opposition aren't going to refuse to select their own previously-banned or punished players. From Shane Warne to Mark Waugh to Marlon Samuels to Graham Gooch to Terry Alderman, other international teams have always picked their players once their bans end.
2. What would the impact be on the team?
The ICC answered this themselves in section 231 of the Tribunal's findings when they banned Asif.
In the words of the ICC: "Repentant sinners have in other areas, including the sporting, made the best teachers".
There is a clear moral benefit to not shortening a player's ban and rushing him back early from a ban. But that is not the case here.
Quite the opposite, actually. It's a terrible message to send players to say "I know that X is eligible for selection and better than you, but we are going to pick you because we like you more".
Mohammad Asif was banned by the ICC from playing domestic or international cricket from 1 September 2010 to 1 September 2015, with the ICC directing that the PCB provide him with a full rehabilitation within that 5 year period. This ban was for spotfixing 1 no-ball in 2010, but the ICC accepted that his role in the fix was less than that of Mohammad Amir or Salman Butt and the ICC accepted that he received no payment or other reward.
The PCB then prevented him from playing the 2015-16 First Class season on the basis that it had not complied with the ICC direction that it provide Asif with a full rehabilitation program during his ban.
Since that time the entire basis of the convictions, both cricketing and criminal, has been seriously undermined. The convictions were entirely based on video evidence provide by Mazhar Mahmood, the "Fake Sheikh" journalist, who is now himself in prison for falsifying similar evidence in other cases.
The ICC recorded in its 2010 cricket tribunal's findings that Mohammad Asif had a "good record". But we all know better. Don't we?
We all know that he failed a drug test alongside Shoaib Akhtar in 2006-07, and was initially banned for 1 year (with Shoaib Akhtar banned for 2 years) but that this conviction was overturned on appeal, with the conviction being struck out entirely in favour of a finding of "Not Guilty".
He also failed an IPL drug test in 2008 and was given a 1 year ban which the ICC originally intended to extend to apply worldwide, until it was given legal advice that the IPL drug policy was unlawful because it did not comply with WADA regulations. The IPL ban was then unilaterally extended to Pakistan selection by the incoming PCB chief Mr Ijaz Butt, but without any hearing, trial or appeal process. Asif could not appeal because this was an executive decision, not a guilty verdict. And Pakistan had an almost empty calendar anyway for the next year.
In short, we all know that Mohammad Asif had two failed drug tests and a spotfixing ban. But one of the failed drug tests led to the PCB finding him not guilty, the IPL drug ban was never extended beyond the IPL by the ICC because of the IPL drug code's own non-compliance, and the spotfixing conviction was made on the basis of evidence provided by a journalist who is now in prison for falsifying identical evidence in other cases.
You can argue that Mohammad Asif is either very lucky to have only 1 recognized recorded conviction or you can argue that the incompetence or assistance of others has made him into the man against whom nothing ever seems to stick.
So what are the cricketing arguments for and against his recall:
1. ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF A RECALL
a) Asif is the best tall fast-medium bowler that Pakistan has ever had. He is economical, skillful, and does not rely on pace so his age of almost 34 should matter no more than it did for McGrath, Walsh or Ambrose. And the only developing young bowler in this style is Ehsan Adil, who is going nowhere fast.
b) Asif has proved in this year's domestic First Class season that he is exactly the same bowler he was before. Same skills, same pace, and better results: 15 wickets at 21.66, compared with a pre-ban domestic First Class average of 24.66.
c) The right-arm fast bowlers who replaced him in the national team are no youngsters themselves and have had 75 months to secure the position vacated by Mohammad Asif, but they aren't good enough to do so.
d) The other quick bowlers doing well in domestic First Class cricket have had the same 75 months to take the place vacated by Asif, but haven't been good enough to. Tabish Khan is almost 32 and has failed to do so, while Mir Hamza is 24 and is more a competitor for other left-armers like Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali and Junaid Khan.
e) On 14 July the PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan announced that Asif and Salman Butt will be selected if they "break down the door" with their performances. Mohammad Asif has: not just with the video footage which has gone viral but by single-handedly bowling WAPDA into the QEA Final with his spell of 3-0-3-3 when his team only had 55 runs left to defend.
f) Mohammad Asif is the most thoughtful fast bowler that Pakistan has ever had. Surely his advice would help young fast bowlers to develop faster.
g) Has Pakistan got another fast bowler who can turn the screw on the run rate and dry it up completely?
CRICKETING ARGUMENTS AGAINST HIS RECALL
1. Mohammad Asif is almost 34. Even if he lasts a couple of years - he has far less wear and tear on his body than contemporaries like Anderson and Steyn - does it help to pick a veteran like him?
Surely the answer is "you can't seriously say that and then pick Sohail Khan or Tabish Khan".
2. Is he fit enough to play international cricket again?
Maybe, maybe not. But if you accept that he is good enough, then shouldn't his fitness regime and workload be managed by the national team? Can't he be rotated in and out of Tests to keep him fit?
3. Is he good enough in terms of his skills and pace to play Test cricket?
The answer to this is obviously a resounding "Yes". The footage shows that his skills remain intact and that his pace remains where it always was - around that of Vernon Philander.
4. Has he done enough in domestic cricket?
He has taken his wickets at an average of 21.66 compared with 24.66 before his ban. He has bowled WAPDA into the QEA Final when they were staring elimination in the face until his spell of 3-0-3-3.
5. Shouldn't clean cricketers like Tabish Khan be ahead of him in line for selection?
Why on earth would they be? Tabish Khan is 32 next week. He had 6 years and 3 months to secure himself a place in the team while Asif was first legally banned and then obstructed from playing for Pakistan. If he wasn't good enough to get into the team then, why should he leapfrog a player like Asif who is of proven international class?
MORAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST HIS RECALL
1. A lawyer or an accountant would never get a job again after being banned by his professional body. Why is Asif any different?
Firstly, this same argument would require a life ban for Misbah-ul-Haq, who was banned just two weeks ago for a much more recent offence.
Secondly, the opposition aren't going to refuse to select their own previously-banned or punished players. From Shane Warne to Mark Waugh to Marlon Samuels to Graham Gooch to Terry Alderman, other international teams have always picked their players once their bans end.
2. What would the impact be on the team?
The ICC answered this themselves in section 231 of the Tribunal's findings when they banned Asif.
In the words of the ICC: "Repentant sinners have in other areas, including the sporting, made the best teachers".
There is a clear moral benefit to not shortening a player's ban and rushing him back early from a ban. But that is not the case here.
Quite the opposite, actually. It's a terrible message to send players to say "I know that X is eligible for selection and better than you, but we are going to pick you because we like you more".
