Sport | Cricket
Pakistan fast bowler Asif detained in Dubai
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is hoping for the safe return of fast bowler Muhammad Asif, who has been detained at Dubai Airport on suspicion of possessing a contraband substance.
- By K.R. Nayar, Senior Reporter
- Published: 11:12 June 3, 2008
- Pakistani pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif (right) have been convicted for doping offenses.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Dubai: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is hoping for the safe return of fast bowler Muhammad Asif, who has been detained at Dubai Airport on suspicion of possessing a contraband substance.
At a press conference at Ghaddafi Stadium in Lahore, PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi said he hoped the matter would soon be resolved, but said they did not have details in the case.
He stressed that Asif has not been charged and they are awaiting the laboratory test results.
"We are hopeful he will return home and if that happens, that itself would be an indication that he is innocent. So there would be no question of taking any disciplinary action against him," Naghmi said.
He confirmed that the Pakistani Embassy in Dubai had been notified and that a lawyer had been appointed in the case.
Naghmi added that they will consider disciplinary action once the situation is clear but as of now they are awaiting his return.
Asif was returning to Pakistan through Dubai after playing in the Indian Premier League.
"Yes he has been detained by authorities at Dubai airport for the last 36 hours. We are co-ordinating with the Pakistan embassy and handling this issue," Pakistan Cricket Board official Nadeem Akram told Reuters from Dubai.
"The substance recovered from him has been sent for tests. He is detained not arrested. We will now follow the legal procedures and we have hired lawyers for this purpose," Akram said.
Akram later told Geo television news channel that Asif had been carrying traditional medicine in his wallet.
"We are not sure about the make of the substance, which was prescribed to him by a local hakeem (Ayurvedic practitioner) for his elbow injury," Akram said.
"We have sent his blood and urine samples for tests."
Akram said the PCB had hired a lawyer in Dubai and would be meeting with the public prosecutor later in the day.
Sources on the board said they had only learnt of Asif's detention late on Sunday and immediately sent a team to resolve the matter. They added that he is likely to get bail.
"Obviously it was a big embarrassment for Pakistan cricket but we first have to see what is the real case," an official said on condition of anonymity.
Asif was on Monday named in the Pakistan squad to play in the triangular series in Bangladesh from June 8 against India and the hosts
Nearly two years ago, Asif tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone and was banned.
- With inputs from agencies
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