Mohd Asif detained in Dubai with drugs

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 on Tuesday in Dubai and is expected to be granted bail, sources familiar with the case told PTI.

"He was arrested and detained on Sunday at the airport by custom officials. The board came to know about the issue only on Monday and since then has been busy seeking help of influential officials in Dubai to get the bail for him," the source said.

He said former Pakistan player and Director of National Cricket Academy Mudassar Nazar, who is in Dubai, was also asked to help out in the case.

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.