June 07, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 02, 1429

DUBAI, June 6: The story of Pakistan’s pace spearhead Mohammad Asif remained pretty much blurred here on Friday with no official clarification on the cricketer’s detention as local media quoted the chief prosecutor as saying that charges have not yet been framed against the detained player.

Mohammad Ali Rustom, the chief prosecutor, told reporters that forensic examinations have confirmed the substance recovered from Asif at the Dubai airport was opium.

Rustom added that charges are yet to be framed against Asif, who remains at the Dubai airport detention centre since he arrived here on transit from India on Sunday.

“Dubai police’s forensic laboratory results have confirmed that the contraband substance which was discovered in Asif’s wallet is opium,” Rustom said.

“The suspect is still being detained at the airport and is being questioned by the public prosecution facing charges of smuggling and possessing drugs.”

Rustom further said that charges might be framed against the cricketer once the investigation wraps up on Sunday. Only then it would be decided whether to refer the case to the Dubai Court of First Instance or deport the cricketer, he stated.

The prosecutor added that after findings of the laboratory analysis reached the authorities, they asked Asif about it; the player said he was not aware that it was a drug.

Meanwhile, apart from Asif, the statement of the custom officer who intercepted the player was also recorded.—Agencies