ICC asks Pakistan about Asif case

The International Cricket Council has asked officials in Pakistan to explain what action they plan to take against fast bowler Mohammad Asif over his drugs arrest, an official said Thursday.

The 26-year-old fast bowler was detained in June for nearly three weeks for possession of opium as he was returning to Pakistan after playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Dubai police deported him without charge, saying the quantity of illegal drugs found was insufficient, but he was barred from the United Arab Emirates for life.

Pakistan’s Senate standing committee has recommended that Asif be banned for life over the Dubai drugs case, the latest in a series of troubles for the cricketer.

"We have received an email from ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat accompanied by the Dubai detention report,"

the Pakistan Cricket Board's chief operating officer, Saleem Altaf, told a foreign news agency.

"This is the first time we have seen this report and our lawyer is looking into it and soon we will form a committee to take action on it,"

he said.

Altaf said the PCB would follow the normal course taken for a discipline violation after receiving the ICC's query, explaining that the process had been delayed due to a change in leadership at the PCB.

A PCB spokesman said a three-man committee had been set up to review the Dubai report on Asif's detention and make a recommendation "in due course".

Asif is also facing a possible two-year ban after failing a drugs screening test during the inaugural IPL season last year. He was due to appear before the IPL doping tribunal on January 24.

Altaf, himself a former paceman for Pakistan's national team, said the PCB would not rush to conclusions over what he termed a "sensitive case."

"We are talking about a player's career,"

he said.

Asif and fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar failed drugs tests in 2006. A PCB tribunal banned Akhtar for two years and Asif for one year but that decision was overturned on appeal in a move criticised by the ICC.

Asif has played 11 Tests and 31 one-day matches for Pakistan since making his debut in Australia in early 2005.

Senate recommends life ban for Asif

Pakistan's Senate sports committee Tuesday recommended that troubled fast bowler Mohammad Asif be banned from cricket for life over his detention in Dubai last year for opium possession.

The 26-year-old fast bowler was detained in June for nearly three weeks as he was returning to Pakistan after playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Dubai police deported him without charge, saying the quantity of illegal drugs found was insufficient, but barred him from the United Arab Emirates for life.

Asif told prosecutors he had used the opium, but claimed he believed it was simply a herbal remedy that would boost his energy.

"Youngsters will be encouraged to take drugs if Asif is not banned for life,"

committee member Enver Baig told a hearing at which officials from the sport's governing body were asked to testify.

The committee demanded that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) launch a full probe into the incident, saying Asif's actions had tainted the country's reputation.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said he had not yet seen a report from Dubai prosecutors about the incident, even though it was leaked to the media on Sunday.

Asif is also facing a possible two-year ban after failing a drugs screening test during the inaugural IPL season last year. He was due to appear before the IPL doping tribunal on January 24.

Asif and fellow pace-man Shoaib Akhtar failed drugs tests in 2006. A PCB tribunal banned Akhtar for two years and Asif for one year, but that decision was overturned on appeal.

Asif apologises for repeated mistakes

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, has apologised to the nation for his repeated misdemeanours. Asif, who was in tears during an interview to a TV channel, vowed to come back a reformed man.

"I have committed mistake after mistake and for that I apologise to the nation,"

Asif said on the Geo Super channel.

"I have disregarded the green Pakistan blazer but I promise that if I get the next chance I will be a totally changed player."

Asif has been at the centre of controversies during the past 15 months. Before the World Twenty20 in South Africa in September last year, fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar struck him with a bat. Asif did not face any caution but Akhtar was sent back home. In June this year, soon after the IPL, Asif was detained at Dubai airport for allegedly possessing opium. He was released after 19 days. In July the IPL announced that Asif's urine sample had tested positive for nandrolone, which was confirmed by the B sample as well.

Asif, though, appealed against the results of his test, on the basis that the level of the drug varied in both samples.

"They announced the report of the test after two and a half months and are now not conducting any hearing,"

Asif said.

"It's piling frustration on me and I anxiously wait to get cleared so that I can resume my cricket."

Asif has been suspended by the PCB from all forms of the game pending the result of the IPL inquiry. The board had ordered an investigation into his Dubai detention, but it is unlikely they will take any action on that front soon.

He had previously tested positive for nandrolone just before the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. Though he was banned for one year by a PCB tribunal, the punishment was overturned a month later on appeal.

IPL sets October 11 date for Asif hearing

Mohammad Asif will be appearing before the IPL drugs tribunal on October 11 after testing positive for the banned steroid, nandrolone, during the tournament.

Asif's lawyer Shahid Karim told reporters that the fast bowler received a letter from the IPL asking him to appear before the tribunal on the said date. Sunder Raman, the IPL chief executive, confirmed the date and said the meeting would be held in Mumbai.

Originally scheduled for August 30, soon after his B sample also tested positive, the hearing was pushed back after a request from Asif. A decision will be arrived at by the three-man panel set up by the IPL comprising former India opener Sunil Gavaskar, doctor Ravi Bapat and lawyer Shirish Gupte.

Besides his lawyer, Asif will be accompanied by his consultant, Dr Graham Durgan, and if found guilty he is likely to be handed a two-year ban from the IPL which will apply to both domestic and international cricket.

Asif eager for drugs hearing

Mohammad Asif wants the chance to clear his name as he waits for his doping tribunal. It will decide if he is handed a two-year ban after testing positive for the banned steroid, nandrolone, during the Indian Preimer League (IPL).

Asif has been suspended by the Pakistan board and his B sample also tested positive in August, although he hopes that a discrepancy between the two readings could help his case.

"I am anxiously waiting to put my case before the IPL tribunal because I want to get my name cleared and return to where I belong - [on] cricket grounds,"

Asif told AFP.

"I am confident that I will get cleared on the basis of discrepancies in the quantity, but the first thing is to get a hearing where I could prove myself."

The tribunal will take place in front of a three-man panel set up by the IPL including former India opener Sunil Gavaskar, doctor Ravi Bapat and lawyer Shirish Gupte. The hearing had originally been due on August 30, but Asif asked for it to be pushed back.

If Asif is found guilty the ban will come from the IPL, but as it is officially sanctioned by ICC it will apply to both domestic and international cricket.

Asif is currently in Karachi to play some club cricket and aiming to stay in shape should he be able to resume his career.

"I have already missed a lot of cricket,"

he said.

"My whole career has suffered badly in the last few months and once I return I will make sure that no untoward incident happens again."

Asif fails again to clear dope test

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif failed again to clear his dope test and his 'B' sample has tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

However, this is strange to note in this case that the quantity of nandrolone was 6.2 in the previous test but this is time it is 5.4.

Mohammad Asif said that he would challenge on this basis that how the quantity of nandrolone varied as the tests were taken at the same time.

The 25-year-old fast bowler tested positive during the Indian Premier League competition held between April and June, and the Pakistan Cricket Board suspended him in July on the basis of his first sample.

Asif tested positive for nandrolone in 2006 along with fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar. He was banned for one year and Akhtar for two, but the bans were overturned on appeal.

Asif requests IPL to extend ‘B sample’ deadline

Fast bowler Mohammad Asif has requested the Indian Premier League for extending his ‘B Sample’ dope test deadline which was set for August 6.

Asif’s lawyer Shahid Karim told Geo News that the Swiss embassy informed him that it has no objection on issuing the visa today but his passport cannot be returned under a procedure. Thus, he cannot leave for Switzerland today, so it would be better to get a new deadline for ‘B sample’ then he would be issued the visa immediately according to the new date.

Shahid Karim told that the IPL in this regard has been e-mailed for extending the date for ‘B sample’ as the travel documents of Asif are not complete.

The reply from the IPL for setting a new deadline for ‘B sample’ test is being awaited.

IPL fixes deadline of Aug 6 for Asif’s ‘B sample’

The Indian Premier League has fixed a new deadline for fast bowler Mohammad Asif’s dope test ‘B sample’.

Asif’s lawyer Shahid Karim told Geo News that the IPL management has set August 6 as a new deadline for ‘B sample’ of the fast bowler and sent necessary documents along with the invitation. Now, an urgent request for visa for Switzerland is being sent.

He said that he would go with Asif to Switzerland where the ‘B sample’ is available at a laboratory for dope test of Mohammad Asif.

He said that if there is any delay in completing traveling documents then the IPL would be requested for further extension of deadline.

The lawyer of Mohammad Asif further said that the IPL had earlier set a deadline of July 28 for ‘B sample’ but he requested to the IPL for extending the date as travel documents were not complete.

PCB’s Fact Finding Committee summons Asif

The fact-finding committee of Pakistan Cricket Board reviewing Muhammad Asif’s Dubai doping case, has summoned the fast bowler.

The first meeting of PCB’s fact-finding committee was held under the chairmanship of Shafqat Naghmi here on Thursday. Committee members Zakir Khan and Nadim Akram attended the meeting.

The committee in its first meeting reviewed the report received from Dubai and later summoned Muhammad Asif on Friday.

Raja holds Asif responsible for ruining own career

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) former chief executive and Captain Rameez Raja said that Muhammad Asif himself was responsible for ruining his career and added that if the Board had taken stern decision in 2006, then Pakistan would not have earned bad name today by dope testing proved positive.

Talking to Geo News here, Rameez Raja said that it was unfortunate for Pakistan stormed by controversies one after the other. He said that the cricketers by virtue of central contract were employees of the Board against whom severe disciplinary actions should be taken instead of rescuing them. If the Board gets strong, then it would never fall prey to the political maneuverings, but Muhammad Asif, when tested positive in 2006, was let off on political considerations and now, first the Dubai case and then the IPL dope test came to the fore.

Asif demands B sample test from IPL

Fast bowler Mohammad Asif has formally contacted the Indian Premier League for getting a ‘B sample’ test after testing positive for a banned substance during play in the IPL.

His lawyer Shahid Karim told Geo News here on Wednesday that he has held a detailed meeting with Mohammad Asif in which it was decided to make an immediate contact with the IPL and demand for a ‘B sample’ test.

The IPL management has been mailed and asked that Asif wants a ‘B sample’ and seeks guidance in this regard.

The IPL has also been asked that what the procedure was adopted for the first sample test.

Shahid Karim told that no letter regarding suspension has so far been received from the Pakistan Cricket Board and the future strategy would be decided after receiving the letter.
The IPL announced on Monday that the 25-year-old fast bowler had failed a drugs test at the lucrative Twenty20 tournament held from April to June.

"We will fight the case because we believe that our client has not taken any drug so we will go for the B sample test and do whatever required to clear Asif's name,"

lawyer Shahid Karim said.

The announcement, the latest in a series of shocks for Pakistani cricket, comes a month after Asif was seized at Dubai airport while returning home from India on charges of possessing opium.

He was detained for 19 days before being deported by police in the Gulf emirate, who said the quantity of illegal drugs found was "insignificant."

In October 2006, Asif was banned for one year and fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for two years after they failed dope tests conducted internally by the PCB.

The bans were however overturned on appeal.

Shahid Karim said Asif was shocked at the development but was very confident that his name would be cleared.

"Asif is a talented bowler and wants to play for his country. He is confident that he will get out of this trouble and play again for the country,"

said Karim.

Bright star Asif slips into the darkness

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has gone from bright new hope to fallen star in the space of just two years and his latest troubles could spell the end of his career.

The 25-year-old paceman was on Monday identified as the player who failed a drugs test during the April-June Indian Premier League and now faces a lengthy ban from the game.

It may prove to be the last twist in a career which was tainted by a first doping row in 2006, a fight with fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar in September last year and a 19-day detention in Dubai on charges of possessing an illegal drug last month.

Former captain Wasim Akram said Asif is another example of a career which has spiralled out of control.

"Boys like Asif come from small towns and they are unable to handle the fame and money so they get distracted and I'm disappointed at the fate such a talented bowler has met,"

said Wasim.

There has never been any doubt over Asif's talents with the ball.

When he dismissed legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar during his match and series-winning seven-wicket haul in Karachi in January 2006, he was instantly compared with Australian master quick Glenn McGrath.

Asif followed it up with 17 wickets to help Pakistan beat Sri Lanka 2-0 two months later.

Nominated as one of the International Cricket Council's emerging players of 2006, he was hailed as the "bowler of this generation" by none other than legendary Pakistani all-rounder Imran Khan.

Asif hails from a village called Machikay, near Sheikhupura, a small town in central Punjab which also produced medium fast bowler Rana Naved-ul Hasan.

He caught the selectors' eye with a burst of 7-35 for Sialkot in a first-class match in 2005 and was handed a ticket to Australia with the Pakistan national team.

His first international outing at Sydney proved a forgettable experience as his 18 overs in Pakistan's third loss in as many Tests went wicketless.

But the determined novice worked hard to ensure it was not his last, undergoing a short stint at India's MRF pace academy under the eagle eye of former Australian legend Dennis Lillee.

He showed signs of improvement by taking ten wickets in a first-class match against Ashes-winning Michael Vaughan's England in November 2005.

Injuries to his back and elbow stopped him showing his true potential, however and he missed Pakistan's first three Tests in England in the summer of 2006.

He finally arrived with a bang at the Oval, grabbing 4-56 to help Pakistan gain the upper hand before his team ended up forfeiting the game in a protest over ball-tampering allegations.

He was expected to lead Pakistan's attack on Indian pitches during the Champions Trophy before the dope test saga unfurled.

He and fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar tested positive for nandrolone.

Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year but the bans were however overturned on appeals.

Asif promised that he would learn from the first pitfall, but recent developments suggest otherwise.

Asif fails in dope test at IPL: Indian Board

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif tested positive for a banned substance during random testing at the Indian Premier League, the Indian Cricket Board announced on Monday.

The Indian Cricket Board has confirmed the player in violation during the IPL is Mohammad Asif.

Asif, 25, played for the Delhi Daredevils team in the IPL, a lucrative Twenty20 tournament that ran from April 18-June 1 and featured the world's top players.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had been informed of Asif's positive test and it depended on the player if he wanted his 'B' sample to be tested, the statement added.

"It was also checked if Mr Asif had applied for and was granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE),"

the statement said.

"It was found that Mr. Asif had not applied for a TUE. A note in writing has been sent to the player and his home board and to the franchisee on the findings,"

it added.

Officials compared the result from the WADA-approved laboratory in Switzerland with data collected by IDTM, the Sweden-based independent agency which organised testing in accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards.

The nature of the banned substance has not been disclosed.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had been informed of Asif's positive test and it depended on the player if he wanted his 'B' sample to be tested, the statement added.

If Asif takes up the offer the case will be referred to the IPL's three-member Drugs Tribunal that includes former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, once the results of the 'B' sample are known.

The lanky seamer faces a ban from future editions of the IPL and possible punishment from the Pakistan board if all tests go against him.

Asif was detained at Dubai airport for three weeks for possessing opium while returning from the IPL in June. But Dubai public prosecutors dropped the case citing "insignificance" and deported him to Pakistan.

Asif, who made his international debut in January, 2005, has so far played 11 Tests and taken 51 wickets at an average of 23.13.

He also has 36 wickets from 31 one-day internationals and 12 wickets in nine Twenty20 internationals.

Team selection delayed until Shoaib Akhtar ‘pays up’

Senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and national selectors seemed to be on a collision course after Pakistan delayed naming their preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy following a dispute with controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar over the payment of a seven million rupees fine.

The selectors had included Shoaib in a 30-man provisional list for the Champions Trophy but some Board officials disapproved it, saying that the fast bowler cannot be a part of it until he pays the fine.

With PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf not in the country, it was left to Shafqat Naghmi, the Board’s chief operating officer, to resolve the issue after it snowballed into the newest controversy to hit Pakistan cricket.

Naghmi has summoned the national selectors to the Board headquarters in Lahore on Monday (July 14) to discuss the provisional list. The PCB has decided to name the Champions Trophy probables after the meeting.

The Board landed itself in an embarrassing situation when the preliminary list was leaked to the media before it was officially announced.

The list was due to be released on Friday — the deadline set by the International Cricket Council (ICC). A PCB official, however, said that the ICC has relaxed the deadline till July 15.

“It (the announcement of the list) is not an issue,”

Mansoor Sohail, PCB’s media director, said.

“The list will be released after the meeting between Board officials and the selectors on Monday,”

he added.

While Sohail tried to play down the episode, this correspondent has learnt that the selectors were unhappy at the way PCB officials have tackled the issue. Sources said that the selectors included Shoaib and another controversial pacer Mohammad Asif in the list after getting permission from Ashraf before he left for England for a week-long visit. They weren’t expecting other PCB officials to question the list.

According to well-placed sources, it was Zakir Khan, PCB’s Director of Cricket Operations (International), who raised an objection on Shoaib’s inclusion in the list. Zakir has had problems with Shoaib in the past and the two are not the best of friends.

But Naghmi made it clear that Zakir’s objection came because of an entirely different reason.

“We have a policy or a vision for the first year to concentrate mostly on the 26 players we are paying a monthly salary or retainer to,”

Naghmi told.

“This pool numbers 26 and we needed 30,”

he added.

“We had also decided that if any extraordinary talent outside this pool emerges, then we have men like Mudassar Nazar, Aaqib Javed and Haroon Rasheed at the academy who spot this talent.

“So anytime the selectors pick outside this 26, a committee headed by Zakir Khan needs to just approve that these are the guys we should pick. That was scheduled for this morning but couldn’t happen and will now happen on Monday,”

he added.

When contacted by ‘The News’, chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed made it clear that the selection committee will accept any decision made by the PCB Governing Board.

“It (Governing Board) is the supreme authority and its decision will be final,”

he said adding that the selectors had picked the best players in the provisional squad.

Of those best players, two are disputed.

Shoaib is the main bone of contention. He was banned for five years on April 1 this year over repeated breaches of discipline but later the punishment was reduced to 18 months but he was slapped with a Rs 7 million fine.

Later, Shoaib filed a petition with the Lahore High Court against the ban and fine last month. The court suspended the ban but refused to clear the fine until the case is taken up for regular hearing in September.

The board’s legal opinion suggests that Shoaib will become eligible after he pays the fine.

“We got the written court order today,”

Naghmi said.

“They suspended the ban but not the fine. We have asked our lawyer whether Shoaib becomes eligible after paying the fine and the lawyer believes that is the case. We’ve sent a letter to Shoaib to pay the fine by Monday.”

The second player in question is Asif. A PCB fact-finding committee is to probe an incident that led to his detention in Dubai last month for allegedly carrying a banned drug.

The three-man committee, which includes Naghmi, Zakir and Nadeem Akram, will begin its work from Monday, after receiving documents related to the case from Dubai.

Champions Trophy: ‘Pakistan’s preliminary squad by July 15’

Chief operating officer Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shafquat Naghmi said that Pakistan’s preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy would be announced after getting the approval from the PCB governing body.

Talking in the Geo News programme ‘Scorer’, Shafquat Naghmi said that the selection committee has finalized the squad for the Champions Trophy and waiting for an approval from the governing body under the PCB procedure and the team would be announced soon after getting the approval.

Sahfquat Naghmi said that the deadline for announcing the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy is July 15 and the team would be announced before the deadline.

In reply to a question regarding the inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar, he said that it would be known when the team would be announced.

However, he told that the copy of the Lahore High Court decision has been received.

Asif to reimburse expenses of his case : Nasim Ashraf

Mohammad Asif has to pay all expenses incurred by the PCB on his case.

This has been said by chairman PCB Dr. Nasim Ashraf during a briefing after the meeting of the PCB governing body here on Saturday.

He told that the board budget of Rs.3.9 billion has been approved in the meeting of the PCB governing body and 62 per cent of the budget would be spent on the promotion of cricket.

He said that there is no proposal of removing Geoff Lawson from the post of the coach.

PCB forms three-man committee for Asif inquiry

The PCB has constituted a three-man committee to investigate Mohammad Asif's 19-day detention in Dubai on allegations of possessing an illegal substance. Asif returned to Pakistan on Friday after Dubai authorities dropped the case on grounds of it being "insignificant." There remains confusion over whether he was deported, as media reports in Dubai claim, or 'repatriated', as the PCB claimed in a statement.

"They [the committee] have been asked to acquire all the documents related to the case, establish facts, and after a complete investigation, submit a report to me,"

Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, said in Lahore.

"The same report will be sent to the ICC."

Of particular importance will be whether or not formal charges were actually laid down against Asif and whether he was subsequently pardoned. If no formal charges were placed, it could be that Asif escapes punishment altogether. But if charges have been placed and then withdrawn, it is likely Asif will face some sort of action, particularly as this is his second related offence.

The committee comprises of PCB officials Shaqfat Naghmi [chief operating officer], Zakir Khan [director - cricket operations], and Nadeem Akram [director - human resources], and they will begin their inquiry once they receive official records pertaining to the case from Dubai. Akram spent some time in Dubai handling Asif's case, though he came back before Asif was released.

"Based on the judgment's copy, we will consider whether Asif can be pardoned or not. A crime is a crime and any player who has committed it will be punished,"

Ashraf said.

"It is a relief that he has been released, but it is a fact that this incident caused a lot of embarrassment and gave sleepless nights to the board."

Ashraf also said the hakeem [physician] who, according to Asif had given him the substance, could be questioned.

"I have heard his [Asif's] point of view, and he told me that he was in possession of a pain killer given to him by an expert on natural herbs,"

he said.

"If needed, we will also summon the hakeem to record his statement to know what exactly was in possession with Asif."

Asif returns home after drug case dropped

After spending twenty days of detention in Dubai, Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif returned home early Friday as Dubai prosecutors dropped charges of possessing contrabands.

Director Human Resources Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Nadeem Akram and Director Khalid received Muhammad Asif at Lahore Airport who reached here via Karachi.

The 25-year-old fast bowler was held at Dubai airport on June 1 while returning home from in India, and charged with possessing a small amount of opium.

The pacer tried to avoid the large number of media waiting for him out side Jinnah terminal and opted not to come out of the lounge.

According to eye witnesses, as soon Asif cleared the immigration counter, he was taken to customs office and later he was seen resting in VIP lounge of PIA in domestic departure area.

The Pakistan Cricket Board earlier welcomed the decision to drop the case, adding that it is relieved that his ordeal is over.

Asif apologetic over Dubai episode

Fast bowler Muhammad Asif Friday apologized from the nation over whatever happened in Dubai and clarified that he had never used prohibited drugs.

Addressing a press conference after his meeting with Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Dr. Nasim Ashraf, he said he had tested negative for use of banned drugs before Indian Premier League and similarly also in Dubai.

No contrabands recovered: Muhammad Asif

Pakistan fast bowler Muhammad Asif has returned to Lahore airport through Karachi this morning, after 20-day long incarceration in Dubai. The PCB officials Nadeem Akram and Ahsan Hameed acclaimed Asif at port.

No illegal import was found from my custody and all of my medical tests had resulted negative in this connection, talking to media at Lahore airport he justified.

He said that I am grateful to Allah on getting back to homeland. The Chairman PCB Dr. Naseem Ashraf and Pakistan Embassy officials cooperated with me at their best.

The Dubai airport officials found a medicine, which they took for contrabands however all tests have reverberated me innocent and I have no charges with me now, Asif defined.