Asif’s B sample to be tested

Karachi, July 16: Pakistan’s disgraced pace bowler Mohammad Asif on Wednesday sent a request to the Indian Premier League officials to have his B sample tested.

His lawyer Shahid Karim confirmed that an e-mail had been sent to the IPL organising committee asking for the B sample test. "This is Asif’s right to ask for the second test and we remain confident it will reveal that the first test which has come positive might have been due to some mistake," Karim said.

Asif was the only player to test positive during the IPL where the random dope tests were conducted as per World Anti-Doping Agency rules. The Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday suspended Asif for an indefinite period.

Karim said the bowler had so far not got anything in writing about his suspension from the Board and exuded confidence of wiping out the blot on Asif’s reputation.

"But we are confident because Asif is certain he is innocent of doping charges. We hope the ‘B’ sample test is held as soon as possible so that his name is cleared," he stated.

Meanwhile, a PCB source said the board was unlikely to support Asif in fighting his case.

"The board is also aware that its reputation is taking a beating for offering support and legal help to players behaving irresponsibly and indulging in acts of indiscipline. When the board helped Asif and got him out of his detention in Dubai some senators and members of parliament had criticised the board for involving itself in an episode that was embarrassing for Pakistan cricket." — PTI