In a sensational turn of events, Pakistani pacer Mohd Asif has been detained at the Dubai International airport for allegedly carrying drugs in his luggage. The pacer, who was on his way back to Pakistan after a stint in the Indian Premier League, was detained on Sunday. Due to the hectic efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), he is due to appear before a magistrate today in Dubai and is expected to be granted bail.
It is the second drug scandal involving Asif, who along with Shoaib Akhtar, tested positive for banned anabolic steroids before the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. They were initially banned for two years by a drugs inquiry tribunal but later the ban was removed on appeal by an appellate tribunal formed by the PCB. As expected no official of the board was willing to come on record on the issue. Ironically Asif was picked in the Pakistan squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh this month on Monday.
