June 11, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 06, 1429

LAHORE, June 10: There was no visible progress in the case against fast bowler Mohammad Asif who is these days detained at the Dubai airport for carrying a contraband substance, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said on Tuesday.

“Though the public prosecutor has completed the investigation and dispatched the case file to the attorney general two days ago, no decision has been made [regarding Asif] by the Dubai authorities,” the chairman told Dawn.

“We were expecting a decision today [Tuesday] but now it is not possible because the offices in Dubai will have closed by now,” he added.

Asif was detained on June 1, when it was reported that a banned substance was found in his wallet by the Dubai customs officials, while coming back home from India via Dubai after featuring in the Indian Premier League.

Though the PCB had sent its Director Human Resource Nadeem Akram to Dubai on the same day, it has now advised him to return home, raising doubts that the PCB is not very hopeful about Asif’s release.

However, the chairman said the board had called back the official because a lot of work had to be done organising the Asia Cup scheduled to begin in Pakistan from June 24.

About the delay, the chairman said he was not in a position to make any comment because Dubai had its own rules and regulations, adding everyone had to respect those.

Agencies add: Nadeem said an official from the Pakistan embassy in Abu Dhabi will handle the case and was optimistic about Asif’s release.

“I am returning home tonight, but I am hopeful of an early release [for Asif],” Nadeem said.

Nadeem added that the paceman’s fate would be decided on Thursday or Saturday.

“We are working hard to get him [Asif] released as quickly as possible. But we now hope that his fate may be decided on Thursday or Saturday,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik has dismissed reports that the government was wielding its influence to get Asif released.

Malik said the PCB had not approached the government to help them get Asif released from detention.

Asif was detained at the Dubai airport on June 1 and authorities there recovered 0.24 gram of opium from his possession.

Malik further said the Pakistan government was not keen to get itself involved in the case as it had something to do with drugs.

“Unless we know the quantity of the drug and what the charges against him are, we cannot get involved. If they charge him, they will try him according to the law of their land,” he stated.

Earlier, speculation had been rife that the Pakistan government was involved in the case after senior board officials met Malik in Islamabad on Monday.

Malik added that even if Asif is deported from Dubai, the authorities would carry out their own investigations if the board recommends that some action be taken against the player.

“The question is if they charge him they will try him and if they deport him then it is up to the board to recommend action against him and if we are asked to do something we will carry out investigations into the incident and Asif’s involvement with drugs.

“We will only act on this case if the PCB formally requests us to do so,” he clarified.