Asif case comes to London

Mohammad Asif insists he is determined "to have this thing over with as soon as possible"

Mohammad Asif's Indian Premier League drugs hearing will be shifted to London.

The Pakistan pace bowler tested positive for a banned substance during the inaugural edition of the IPL in June this year.

He appeared before an IPL drugs tribunal comprising of former India Test skipper Sunil Gavaskar, leading lawyer Shirish Gupte and doctor Ravi Bapat, although that meeting proved inconclusive.

A second hearing was scheduled for November 29 but was postponed due to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the venue of the hearing.

Asif then asked the IPL to shift the hearing to a neutral venue and have now acceded to that request.

"We requested the IPL tribunal to shift the hearing to a neutral venue because of the huge delay due to the Mumbai incidents," Asif’s lawyer, Shahid Karim, said.

"They have agreed to our request and the hearing will now be held in London on January 24.”

Asif, already suspended from international cricket by the Pakistan Cricket Board, faces a minimum two-year ban if found guilty.

"I am very frustrated at being unable to play any cricket until the tribunal gives a clear decision on my case," said Asif, who turns 26 on Saturday. "I am keen to have this thing over with as soon as possible.

“The main purpose of shifting the venue was to ensure there was no further delay in the hearing. We felt that with the Mumbai tragedy, things could be delayed further.”

Asif has always denied any wrongdoing but, should he be found guilty, his ban would begin from the date the hearing started.