Asif set to avoid Dubai

Pakistan's controversial pace bowler Mohammad Asif will travel to South Africa for the Champions Trophy separately from his team-mates, and via London instead of Dubai.

Asif was detained for 19 days last June after Dubai airport authorities found 0.24 grams of opium in his wallet. He was released without charge and has denied reports he was subsequently deported.

Pakistan are due to leave for Johannesburg via Dubai this week. But Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Wasim Bari said: "While the rest of the team will travel via Dubai, Asif will travel via London. We are fully focused on the Champions Trophy and we do not want any untoward incidents to spoil our preparations."

Asif was fined one million rupees (around £7,500) for bringing his sport into disrepute and breaching the PCB's code of conduct. He is also about to finish a one-year ban for testing positive for the banned drug nandrolone during the Indian Premier League.

His suspension ends on September 22, the day before Pakistan begin their Champions Trophy campaign against West Indies in Johannesburg. But Asif's availability for scheduled one-day international and Twenty20 series against New Zealand in Dubai and Abu Dhabi remains uncertain.

"We need to be sure beforehand that he can travel to the UAE," Bari reported.

"We have sought clarification from the authorities there and we are hopeful he would be able to play anywhere once he completes his ban." Link...