Deported Asif cannot play in UAE, says PCB by AFP

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Player:

Mohammad Asif

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DateLine: 19th October 2009

 

Doping-tainted paceman Mohammad Asif has been ruled out of Pakistan's series against New Zealand next month as he cannot enter the United Arab Emirates, an official said Monday.

 

"We inquired about Asif's position in the UAE and after checking that, we can confirm that Asif cannot play there because if he goes there he will be arrested," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt told reporters.

 

Pakistan are scheduled to play New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates after the PCB lost the right to host foreign teams following the March gun and grenade attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

 

Asif was detained at Dubai airport for 19 days while returning from India after featuring in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in June last year.

 

He was found in possession of opium but Dubai police deported him after they found the quantity of the drug was "insufficient" to bring a case.

 

The 26-year-old controversial paceman was fined one million rupees (12,500 dollars) by a PCB disciplinary committee.

 

Before his detention, Asif failed a dope test in the inaugural season of the IPL last year -- his second doping offence in a short career.

 

He was banned for one year.

 

After the ban expired, Pakistan recalled him for the Champions Trophy, held in South Africa in September-October but he played in only one match -- against Australia.

 

After making his debut in Australia in 2005, Asif hit the headlines for the wrong reasons the following year when, along with fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar, he tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

 

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

 

Asif termed his recall last month as his "rebirth in cricket."

(Article: Copyright © 2009 AFP)