Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif's lawyer Shahid Karim has said that the PCB ban on Asif from playing in domestic cricket is unwarranted and uncalled for.
KARACHI: Suspended Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif's lawyer Shahid Karim has reiterated that the ban imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board, stopping Asif from playing in domestic cricket, is unwarranted and uncalled for.
Karim told PTI today that he had been misunderstood and misquoted when he spoke about Asif's upcoming hearing with the Indian Premier League drugs inquiry tribunal in London on January 24th.
"I never said Asif can't play in domestic cricket because of the IPL drugs inquiry tribunal hearing. I said that we have not approached any local sports medicine specialists in
Pakistan as reported in the press to seek their opinion on his case," Karim said.
He said that no local sports medicine specialists had been consulted to help Asif in his case or to challenge the sample collection procedure during the IPL.
"But there is no question that the PCB ban on Asif that stops him playing domestic cricket is not fair and unwarranted," Karim said.
"My client is completely innocent and not only domestic cricket but we believe he should also be playing international cricket and he is keen to prove his innocence at the January 24th hearing," Karim said.
Asif was suspended by the PCB from playing all forms of cricket after he tested positive in the IPL in June. His "B" sample test also came positive but the quantity of the banned
substance found in his urine sample have differed in both tests leading to Asif challenging the procedure adopted for dope testing in the IPL.
"Our stand is very clear that Asif did not take any banned substance and we feel the procedure adopted in the IPL was flawed. As a result, being his lawyer I have no doubt he should be allowed to play domestic and international cricket and the board is wrong to suspend him," Karim said.
He said that Asif had prepared a strong case for the January 24th hearing in London and was hopeful of being proved innocent. Asif who has played 11 tests for Pakistan faces a minimum ban of two years if the IPL drugs inquiry tribunal finds him
guilty and upholds the dope test results.
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