KARACHI, Jan 23: The Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt on Thursday said paceman Mohammad Asif will be playing for Pakistan as soon as he is cleared by the doping authorities.

“Whatever I have gathered from the communications received from WADA and the ICC, Asif may not be facing any long term ban. We will select him as soon he is available,” he told newsmen in an interview prior to his departure for Lahore.

“There is not much problem in the report sent to PCB by the Dubai authorities and Asif may be getting minor punishment for his offence,” he said.

He termed the reports inaccurate and speculative that Asif could face a life ban for drug trafficking under the WADA Code. “Asif’s offence is of minor nature. It was sadly blown out of proportions by some quarters,” he commented.

President of the Sports Medicine Association of Pakistan (SMAP) and WADA-accredited doping officer Danish Zaheer recently stated that Asif could face four-year to a life ban for his doping offences.

Responding to a question about the future of express fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, Ijaz said the selection committee is authorised and independent to take any decision. “I will have complete faith in the selection committee till they are working in a proper way. I would sent them home if they are not doing their job within the parameters,” he said.

Ijaz also said he was expecting interesting contest in the series deciding one-dayer in Lahore on Saturday.—APP