June 19, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 14, 1429

ISLAMABAD, June 18: The Senate Standing Committee on Sports has sought the intervention of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in securing the release of fast bowler Mohammad Asif who has been in custody in Dubai for an offence concerning the possession of contraband substances.

The committee, which met on Wednesday at the Senate Secretariat and was chaired by Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhary, hoped that the government and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will make all possible efforts for an early release of the bowler.

Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhary, while speaking on the subject, said: “Mohammad Asif is a superstar of Pakistan and we should not leave him alone over there and should not spare any effort to bring him back.”

“We request the president and the premier to intervene in the matter and bring back the superstar.”

The committee also advised the PCB chairman to settle the issue as early as possible. “Mohammad Asif represents Pakistan and the board should also talk to the President of Pakistan, who is the patron of the board, to do something in this regard,” the Senator concluded.

PCB’s chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, while responding to a question asked by Senator Enver Baig about Asif’s arrest, said that they haven’t yet received any information from UAE about the fast bowler. “We have hired a legal firm which is working on the case. However, it hasn’t yet been established exactly what substance was he carrying with him.”

Chairman PCB added that the board will also probe into the issue if the fast bowler is found guilty in the UAE.

Enver Baig, responding to Dr Ashraf’s reply, demanded that “an exemplary punishment be given to Asif” and suggested that a life ban be slapped on the pacer if he is found guilty.However, Senator Haroon Akhtar Khan disagreed with Enver Baig on the issue. “Cricketers are heroes of the nation and Asif is also a hero, so all best possible measures should be taken to bring the player back home.”

The Senate Committee on Sports also congratulated Pakistan cricket team for winning the tri-nation contest in Bangladesh.

The committee also gave its approval on the accounts and financial condition of PCB while advising them to further improve the system and to make it more transparent. PCB’s Chief Financial Officer Muhammad Arif gave a detailed presentation regarding the financial condition of PCB.