KARACHI: The Dubai Attorney-General is likely to take up the case of detained pacer Mohammad Asif on Sunday and may perhaps even deliver a verdict on the same day, according to the Pakistan embassy there.
Dismissing media reports that Asif might be deported on Friday, a senior official of the embassy in Dubai said, "I think if any decision was taken to deport him, we would know about it."
He said the embassy had designated a consular to follow the case and assist Asif.
"There has been no development on the Asif front as yet and we are expecting the Attorney-General to handle the case on Sunday after going through the prosecutor's report," the official said.
"Maybe he might even take a decision the same day on whether to charge Asif or release or deport him," he added.
Asif remains in detention in Dubai since June 1 when he was returning from India after playing in the Indian Premier League on his way home.
Authorities at the airport found a small quantity of contraband drug with Asif which was also confirmed through laboratory tests.
The Attorney-General now has to decide if Asif is to be charged or released and sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said normally the authorities in Dubai took a decision on charging or releasing a person within 14-days although this time frame could be extended.
The PCB has now made it clear that Asif, whenever he returns home, will face another inquiry and will not be allowed to play until the inquiry is complete as he has been involved in a drugs case.
The board is under immense pressure over the case with a top ranking official of the International Cricket Council also writing to Chairman Nasim Ashraf, asking for details of the case and what the PCB anti-doping regulations said on such a matter.
The board has avoided confirming or denying the ICC letter.
The ICC itself is under pressure from the World Anti-Doping Agency to push the board to take some strong action against Asif as the recovery of drugs from his possession has been confirmed.
