Banned Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Asif has received a pardon from the United Arab Emirates government, enabling him to play cricket in the UAE in future, and also allowing him to travel to and from the United Arab Emirates.

by Saj Sadiq

11 April 2011

 

Banned Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Asif has received a pardon from the United Arab Emirates government, enabling him to play cricket in the UAE in future, and also allowing him to travel to and from the United Arab Emirates.

The clearance from the UAE Government was confirmed to Asif via the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt.

28 year old Asif was banned from entering the UAE in 2008 after being detained at Dubai International Airport on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs. An unknown substance was found in Asif's wallet, and was sent for analysis along with a sample of Asif's urine. He was withdrawn from Pakistan's squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh.

On June 19, 2008, the criminal charges against Asif were dropped by the Dubai Public Prosecutor, but Asif was banned from entering the UAE ever again.

Asif confirmed the news to PakPassion.net regarding the overturning of his ban on travel to and from the United Arab Emirates, and also verified that he would be able to play cricket in the UAE either upon completion of his current ban from the ICC, or upon completion of the ban if it were to be amended at some point in the future.

Asif - who along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir - was banned from all forms of cricket after the spot fixing hearing in Doha, also confirmed that any developments regarding his appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport will only occur once the upcoming criminal case is concluded.

A further hearing regarding the criminal trial is scheduled for 20th May in London, when a date for the trial may be set.