May 17, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1428

New Delhi, May 16: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed its displeasure over Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to include Mohammad Asif for the upcoming One-Day series in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan are scheduled to play three one-dayers against Sri Lanka starting from May 18.

Gulf-based Khaleej Times reported on Wednesday that the ICC has officially informed the PCB about its reservation over Asif's inclusion.

ICC's objection on Asif's inclusion came after some former cricketers voiced their concern over his selection saying that while his case was in arbitration, the pacer should not have been picked in the squad.

The PCB has already announced that the dope case against Asif and Shoaib Akhtar was closed and the two speedsters were free to play if selected.

When contacted PCB Director Operations, Zakir Khan said that he was not qualified to comment on the issue and PCB chairman was the right person to answer the question.

Asif has also been named in Asian XI along with with Shoaib Akhtar who was not named in the team for the Abu Dhabi series as he was not fully fit.

In October 2006, just before the ICC Champions Trophy, in India both Asif and Shoaib had tested positive for a banned steroid Nandrolone in an internal dope test of PCB and banned for one and two years respectively. Later an appeals tribunal set up by the PCB lifted their bans.