Sohail Khan replaces Asif in Pak tri-series squad

KARACHI: Pakistan selectors on Wednesday replaced beleaguered pacer Mohammad Asif with young fast bowler Sohail Khan in the squad for the ODI tri-series in Bangladesh starting June 8.
    
A board official said due to the delay in Asif's release from detention in Dubai, for allegedly possessing contraband drugs, the selectors consulted the Pakistan Cricket Board, captain Shoaib Malik and coach Geoff Lawson before deciding to call up Sohail for the tri-series, also featuring India and Bangladesh.
    
"We really don't know when the Asif issue would be resolved and he doesn't even have a visa for Bangladesh. Because of these logistical issues it has been decided to replace him with Sohail," one official said.
    
The tri-series starts from June 8 with Pakistan squad leaving on Friday.
    
Asif has been in the Dubai airport detention centre since Sunday morning when he reached there for a 15-hour transit stay while returning from Mumbai to Lahore.
    
Authorities at the Dubai airport detained him after finding the pacer in a drunken state and also found some recreational drugs in his possession.
    
The official said even if Asif was released in the next 24 hours, the feeling was that mentally he might not be ready for an international competition and the board would also like to talk to him regarding the whole episode.
    
Asif's replacement Sohail Khan made his debut against Zimbabwe earlier this year in the one-day series while Asif also returned to action only in April after spending six months on the sidelines due to an elbow injury that required surgery in Australia.