Pakistan play it safe,send Asif via London

The PCB has decided to not take any chances and send paceman Mohammad Asif to South Africa for the upcoming...

The PCB has decided to not take any chances and send paceman Mohammad Asif to South Africa for the upcoming Champions Trophy via London,even as the rest of the squad will travel via Dubai.

The decision has been taken to avoid any untoward situation that may arise if the cricketer,who spent 19 days in detention at Dubai airport for possession of contraband substances,arrives in the city.

Chief Operation Officer of the board Wasim Bari confirmed that Asif was being sent via London on September 21,while others would leave for Johannesburg on September 17 via Dubai. We are sending him via London to avoid any untoward situation, Bari said. He added that the PCB had sought clarifications from authorities over the status of Asifs entry into Dubai. We have a series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai against New Zealand coming up,so we need to be sure if he can travel to Dubai again.

Although Asif was released without any criminal charges but the official documents with the Dubai public prosecutors office say he was deported from the city. Asif was unable to provide any documentary evidence from the Dubai authorities confirming he could enter Dubai again.