KARACHI, Aug 6: The Indian Premier League has extended the date for the ‘B’ sample test for Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif to Aug 18.

Shahid Karim, lawyer for Asif, confirmed they had received an e-mail from the IPL accepting their request for the extension of the date.

This is for the second time that the IPL has accepted a request from Asif to extend the date for his ‘B’ sample test after it was originally scheduled for July 28 and then changed to August 6.

Asif has been suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board after he tested positive in dope tests conducted by the IPL during its inaugural edition in India.

Asif asked for his ‘B’ after failing the dope test but has so far been unable to secure visas to travel to Geneva, Switzerland where the test would be conducted.

Karim said he was hopeful that they would now get visas by Friday. “From the word go I have said the tests should be held in mid August as it will give us appropriate time to prepare our case and travel to Switzerland,” Karim said.

“The Swiss embassy conducted Asif’s interview on Monday and have agreed to issue the visa so that is a big burden off us as we want to be present for the ‘B’ sample tests that is our right,” he said.

Karim also looked unhappy with the PCB attitude on the whole issue. “It seems the PCB has distanced itself from Asif in this case. According to the board’s rules and regulations we are not subject to request the board for any help.”

“It is PCB’s responsibility or rather choice that if they want to support us and send an official with us to Switzerland or not,” Karim said.

He said it was the home board’s discretion under the rules to be present at the tests. “If they want to support him, it is their discretion and then they should send their official.”

Meanwhile, taking a U-turn in their approach towards troubled Asif, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would consider helping out suspended pacer if he approaches them for help in his doping case with the Indian Premier League.

Nadeem Akram, PCB Director (Human resources) denied that the Board had distanced itself from Asif after he tested positive for a banned substance in the IPL. “Until now neither he nor his lawyer, Shahid Karim have approached us for any assistance in securing visas for Switzerland or otherwise. If they do request us for assistance we will consider helping him,” Akram said.

He insisted that the Board had not deserted Asif after his Dubai detention or the positive test in the IPL. “He is one of our valued players but since we have no jurisdiction in the IPL and they are communicating directly with him and his lawyer, he was advised to handle things himself and fight his case. But if he requires assistance and advise we have never said no to him.

“The PCB has provided him all help as allowed under our rules and regulations. We have not ignored him but eventually IPL has its own anti-doping regulations and committee and he has to fight his case himself,” he said. — Agencies