Mohammad Asif received a major boost in his quest to return to the national side after he was named the captain of the Sialkot Region team in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy grade-2 tournament.

The tournament, which kicks off from March 5, will be the second major domestic tournament Asif will be taking part in this year after he featured in seven games for WAPDA in the National One-Day Cup.

Asif and former Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt returned to domestic action in the national one-day tournament in January this year, four months after completing their five-year bans for spot-fixing.

The duo, along with Mohammad Amir, were banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for bowling deliberate no-balls in return for money during the Lord's Test against England on Pakistan's tour in 2010.

The three players and their agent Mazhar Majeed were later jailed in the UK.

Nauman Butt, Sialkot Region president, said the 33-year-old paceman had been named captain because 'he was the senior-most player in the team'.

“Since he was cleared by the ICC and the PCB so we have decided to play him,” Butt was quoted as saying ESPNcricinfo.

“It was my request to him to play as captain and players like (Abdur) Rehman, Bilawal Bhatti are going to play under him. None of the players have any problem with our decision and they are all like family members. He is the senior-most player in the team and enjoying the respect that a captain requires from a team-mate,” Butt added

“His behavior has been exemplary during the camp with all the youngsters and I am satisfied with his attitude. I have spoken with every player and they have confirmed that they have no problem at all.”

In an interview earlier this year, Asif said he did not have any trouble in regaining his rhythm after returning to competitive cricket as he had 'trained everyday during his ban'.

“The last five years were the toughest for me and for my family but I am happy that period is over now and I am back on the field.”