Asif eyes Brit doc to bail him out

Karachi:

Pakistan's suspended pace bowler Mohammad Asif is trying to hire the services of renowned sports medicine expert from England Dr Graham Durgan to plead his case against dope charges.

Asif's lawyer Shahid Karim confirmed today that efforts were on to hire Durgan as he has the experience of helping athletes who have been failed dope tests in the United Kingdom.

"Nothing is final as yet. But we are holding talks to secure the services of Dr Durgan," Karim said.

Asif had also tried to hire well known British lawyer and anti-doping legal expert Mark Gay who has represented high profile athletes in doping offences but he didn't respond to the offer from the Pakistani paceman.

Asif's lawyer has asked the IPL to postpone the 'B' sample testing to be held in Switzerland at a World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory because of visa related problems and since he requires more time to prepare the case to defend his client.

Karim said they had sent in two requests to the Indian Premier League for the postponement of the 'B' sample test but the IPL has neither accepted or rejected their point of view.

But sources in the Pakistan board said the IPL had indicated that Asif and his lawyer should seek help from the PCB to get their visas in time to travel to Switzerland for the tests.

Karim said in worst case scenario if the IPL didn't accept their request the 'B' sample test would most probably be held without their presence.

The Pakistan board has made it clear it would not be offering Asif any assistance in the case and he has to fight it himself.

The board's medical commission member Dr Sohail Saleem, meanwhile has also blamed Asif for the mess he finds himself in.

He also dispelled the impression that Asif's failed dope test issue had dented the image of Pakistan cricket.

"I don't think so because doping offences are the sole responsibility of an individual. Asif is responsible if he has failed a dope test in the IPL not the board and I don't think his actions reflect on our cricket," Saleem said.

He also made it clear players were being sufficiently educated in anti-doping laws and regulations and in fact now the board planned to pretty soon start doping tests even at the domestic level to avoid the recurrence of such incidents.

"We have worked out a plan under which the board will soon introduce in-competition tests at first-class level. After appointing physios in all the regions we are now introducing dope tests in first-class matches, in-competition tests," he added.