Asif detained for drug possession

Asif

Pakistan's Mohammad Asif has been detained at Dubai airport for possession of illegal drugs, the country's Cricket Board confirmed on Tuesday.

The fast bowler was stopped on his way to Lahore from Mumbai after playing for the Delhi Daredevils in the recently concluded Indian Premier League.

Nadeem Akram, human resources manager for the PCB, told Indian news channel CNN-IBN that a powder had been found in Asif's wallet.

Akram added that Asif had been given the substance by a hakeem, a traditional Islamic healer.

He said: "Yes, he has not been arrested he has been detained at Dubai airport.

"Apparently it was some drugs given to him by a doctor. It was a very small quantity, it was in his wallet. A small bit of powder.

"It is a medicine given to him by a hakeem in Dubai. It had been given to him some 5-6 months ago and he had forgotten about it."

He had earlier said: "We are co-ordinating with the Pakistan embassy and handling this issue.

"The substance recovered from him has been sent for tests. We will now follow the legal procedures and we have hired lawyers for this purpose."

Akram added that Asif will appear before the magistrate on Tuesday while sources on the board said he will likely be bailed.

They added they had only learnt of his detention late on Sunday and immediately sent a team to sort out the matter.

"Obviously it was a big embarrassment for Pakistan cricket but we first have to see what is the real case," an unnamed official added.

The PCB is due to hold a news conference later on Tuesday.

On Monday, Asif was named in the Pakistan squad to play in the triangular series in Bangladesh from June 8th against India and the hosts.

The 25-year-old received a one-year ban from the PCB in 2006 after testing positive for the banned steroid Nandrolone but the ban was later overturned on appeal.