Asif urges IPL tribunal to shift hearing to next month

Lahore, Aug 29 (UNI) Drug-tainted Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif sought the postponement of an earlier date for him to appear before the drugs tribunal of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a preliminary hearing.

Asif had asked for a hearing from the IPL tribunal tomorrow after his 'A' and 'B' samples, despite coming positive for steroid nandrolone, produced different results in terms of amount of the banned substance.

The pacer's 'B' sample had also tested positive for nandrolone in a WADA-accredited laboratory in Switzerland but the nanogram traces in his urine sample was 5.4, while in the test conducted by IPL, the nanogram traces came at 6.2.

''We have been given a tentative date by IPL. They want us to come to India on August 30 but I have replied to them that it wasn't possible, Asif's lawyer Karim said. ''There are certain formalities to be completed before appearing in front of the tribunal in India. They should fix the date by middle of September.'' Karim also expressed confidence that the controversial pacer will prove his innocence when the IPL tribunal hearing is held.

''The report (from Switzerland) has just come in and we are analysing it, Dr Graham is going through the report.

''There was a major difference in the two results. There was a deviation which has certain concoctions which we can't divulge now, but will do in due course of time,'' he said.

Asif, regarded as one of the finest fast bowlers in the world, sent shock waves in Pakistan cricket when he was caught in Dubai early in July while on his way home after playing in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season for the Delhi Daredevils.

He was detained in Dubai for 20 days before being released after the authorities dropped charges saying that the quantity of the drug recovered from him was insubstantial.

There were widespread reports in the media at that time that top PCB officials used their connection in the Dubai government to get Asif released in a bid to avoid any further embarrassment for Pakistan cricket.

Asif has a questionable history when it comes to drugs, having tested positive for performance-enhancing steroid nandrolone on two occasions. He failed a dope test in 2006 and again this summer.

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