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Cricketer caught with opium: official

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official has confirmed that bowler Mohammad Asif was in possession of opium when he was detained in Dubai earlier this year and has recommended the fast bowler be banned and fined.

“It was proved during our investigation that Asif was caught with a small amount of opium at the Dubai airport,” Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB’s former chief operating officer and member of its inquiry committee, said yesterday.

In June, on his way home from playing in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, Asif was detained for 19 days in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after authorities allegedly found a substance containing opium in his wallet at the airport.

The 25-year-old national team player was accused of carrying 0.25g of opium, but he tested negative for drugs and was released without being charged. But he was questioned by Dubai authorities for drug possession and smuggling while he remained in custody at the airport’s detention center.

“He was actually deported from Dubai as the amount of opium was not enough to lay down charges,” Naghmi said.

The PCB later formed a three-member inquiry committee — headed by Naghmi — and suspended Asif from playing international and national cricket after it emerged the paceman had tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone in the IPL in May.

Asif has filed an appeal with the IPL drug tribunal in Mumbai, India and his next hearing will be held on Nov. 29.

“We have completed the draft of the report, but the new officials in the PCB have not so far asked us to submit it,” Naghmi said.

Earlier this month, Naghmi was replaced by former test fast bowler Salim Altaf on the PCB while Ejaz Butt took over as the cricket’s board’s new chairman, replacing Nasim Ashraf.

“The new chairman didn’t talk to me after his appointment, but even now if the PCB just sends me a letter to submit our findings on Asif’s case, I will do so,” Naghmi said.
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