Mohd Asif in good spirits after initial shock of being imprisoned

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif, who was sentenced to 12 months in jail for involvement in a spot-fixing scam last week, is in good spirits in the Category B Wandsworth men’s prison in London.

A Southwark Crown Court jury had found Asif guilty of conspiring to cheat and conspiring to accept corrupt payments.

“I’ve been to see Asif and it wasn’t easy to see him in such a place. After the initial shock of finding himself in prison, he was now in good spirits, all things considered,” PakPassion.net quoted a source, as saying.

“He offered Eid prayers with fellow Muslim inmates at Wandsworth prison. It’s a very difficult time for Asif, I’m regularly in touch with him. His family and I are trying to provide as much support as possible to him in these difficult times,” the source added.

The source also said that Asif continues to share a cell with former captain Salman Butt, who was sentenced 30 months in jail.

“Asif is sharing a cell with Butt. An application to move to an open and less harsh prison has been submitted, but Asif will have to wait for this application to be approved before any subsequent relocation would happen,” the source said.

Lawyers representing Asif are currently considering an appeal against his conviction.