KARACHI, Dec 3: The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided not to take any disciplinary action against troubled pacer Mohammad Asif, even if he is penalised by the drugs inquiry tribunal of the IPL for his alleged doping offence in the inaugural edition of the Twenty20 tournament.

“It is like double jeopardy. You can’t punish a man twice for the same crime. If the IPL tribunal does not clear him from the doping offence obviously he is going to face a long ban and the PCB does not come into the picture,” a senior PCB official said. He also made it clear that the Board had rejected Asif’s plea for the release of his central contract payments this year. “We have looked into his request and got legal opinion. The fact is that presently he remains suspended from all forms of cricket and until the IPL tribunal reaches a decision we can’t do anything for him,” he said.

Asif was due to appear before the Indian Premier League tribunal on Nov 29 and 30, but the hearing was called off because of the terror attacks in Mumbai and the inquiry tribunal is yet to convey fresh dates to the pacer.

PCB Chief Operating Officer, Saleem Altaf made it clear that the PCB did not have any record or report confirming Asif was carrying opium with him.

He added that the PCB could also view Asif’s case on compassionate grounds.—Agencies