A former PCB official has confirmed that 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 Pakistan Cricket Board's former chief operating officer and member of its inquiry committee, told The AP on Tuesday. In June, on his way home from playing in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, Asif was detained for 19 days in Dubai, the 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 0.01 ounces (0.25 grams) 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. The former PCB official said that the other two members of the committee - former PCB Director of Human Resources Nadeem Akram and present Director of Cricket Operations (International) Zakir Khan - have recommended a ban of several international matches and financial penalty on Asif. “I have already drafted the report in which we have also taken into account the statement of Asif that he recorded before all three of us,” Naghmi said. Naghmi said the investigation found that Asif had violated a number of PCB's rules on players code of conduct. “I can't reveal exactly what we have recommended, but I can say that Asif breached a number of rules and regulations for which we suggested a ban of several international matches and also financial penalty,” he said. India wants to tour Pakistan The Board of Control for Cricket in India has apparently sought the clearance of its government for the Indian team to tour Pakistan in January. The PCB said in a statement that BCCI President Shashank Manohar assured PCB counterpart Ejaz Butt on Tuesday that his team wants to visit Pakistan as scheduled. “The BCCI is expected to get the reply (from its government) in the next 10 to 12 days,” the PCB statement read.
