Akram advises PCB to appoint independent members to probe Asif case
26 Jun 2008, 1249 Hrs

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Lahore, June 26 (ANI): Former cricketer Wasim Akram has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to appoint independent members in the inquiry committee, which is looking into the recent drug case involving fast bowler Mohammad Asif.

"The presence of all board officials in the three-member fact finding committee would make their inquiry a subject of controversy and scrutiny. It would have been better for the board to have appointed three independent members from outside the board to find out what really happened with Asif," the Daily Times quoted Akram, as saying.

The PCB has constituted a three-member committee, which will find the grounds of Asif's detention at the Dubai Airport, and also look into the charges leveled against him, said PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf.

The committee comprises PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Nagmi, PCB director cricket operations Zakir Khan and PCB director human resource Nadeem Akram.

Both have been directed to submit its findings within two weeks time so as to decide whether Asif should face any penalties for the incident.

The PCB chief said Asif had apologised and insisted that he was innocent and did not possess any banned substance. Asif returned home on June 20 after a 20-day detention at the Dubai Airport detention centre after he was found possessing a small packet of white powder, which the airport authorities said was hashish.

The bowler, however, denied the charge saying it was medicine given by a hakeem.

During his detention, Asif was omitted from the national squad for the Asia Cup. (ANI)