The Pakistani cricketers make a unique creed---with their ability to play stormy innings, power to bulldoze the opponent’s wickets with super-fast bowling, with their flamboyance and sex appeal, with their killer looks, the Pakistani cricketers always manage to steal the show. And add to it the
controversies ---it seems that Pakistani cricketers have mastered the art of staying in the top of the international cricket news both with their dazzling cricket scores as well as messed up personal lives. And the latest news maker is Mohammed Asif; a few months ago on his way back home from IPL twenty-20 tournament he spiced up cricket news by getting detained in Dubai airport on the charge of carrying opium. The charge now has an official stamp with PCB confirmation that Asif was in possession of opium at the time of detention.
But at the same time, PCB makes it clear that the quantity of drug that Asif was carrying was very small---just 0.25 grams and so not enough to prove him guilty of drug trafficking. He tested negative for drug too. But this Pakistani pacer is going to face the wrath of Pakistan Cricket Board all right. The committee inquiring into the matter may recommend several years of ban from international cricket and hefty financial penalty.
Back in May while playing in IPL, this Pakistani fast bowler tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone and subsequently banned from playing national or international cricket. However, Asif appealed against this verdict with the IPL drug tribunal in Mumbai and the next hearing is awaited on 29th of this month. The PCB refused to offer any legal assistance in his case against IPL’s drug tribunal. To make the matter worse, PCB has also held up all his payments due for the current year. Seems, Pakistan cricket board is now really up in the sleeves to discipline its players.
The young pace man who is often compared with Glen McGrath for speed and bowling accuracy is now coining with the
ICL offer. But all depends on what happens on 29th of this month. In case of a negative outcome, ICL may opt for the Pakistani rising star, Sohail Khan and that would definitely be a severe blow to this talented fast bowler’s international cricket career.
