Decision on Asif delayed till tomorrow

Dubai, Jun 8 (UNI) A decision on Pakistan's detained pace bowler Mohammad Asif was today delayed until tomorrow after it was passed to the attorney general here following completion of the inquiry today.

''Since the decision on Asif has been delayed till tomorrow, we are now more concerned about his fate. The prosecutor today recorded some more statements and completed the inquiry and were sent to attorney general which may frame the charge,'' Pakistan Cricket Board official Nadeem Akram said.

''If the attorney frames charges then the case will go long,'' he added.

Asif, however, maintained his stand and has protested innocence. The seamer was detained at Dubai airport last Sunday while returning home from India after featuring in the IPL. He has since been under interrogation.

Akram added that he met Asif today and said the pacer was confident about his innocence.

''I met Asif as he needed some money and he was still in high spirits as he is innocent,'' said Akram.

The case was delayed after weekly holidays on Friday and yesterady.

The PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi had earlier said the board had received medical reports on Asif ordered by Dubai authorities but denied to disclose their nature.

''Asif has earlier said he had been getting some herbal medicines. I have heard these reports. Sometimes hakims give medicines, where there are substances which are banned,'' Naghmi told mediapersons.

''But this is not the issue. The main issue is to get his release. We respect their (Dubai authorities') procedure.

''We are confident the truth will come out and there will be justice,'' Naghmi added.

After his detention, the PCB dropped Asif from the Pakistan squad for the triangular series in Bangladesh that began today and was replaced by Sohail Khan.

Earlier, Asif was banned for one year after he tested positive for the steroid nandrolone in October 2006.

The ban was, however, lifted two months later after an appeal.

Akram said Asif's family in Sheikhupura has been briefed about the situation as they are worried about their son.

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