Asif ineligible for UAE series

Mohammad Asif made a successful return in the Champions Trophy, but his comeback is on hold while Pakistan tour the UAE

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Pakistan seamer Mohammad Asif will miss the limited-overs series against New Zealand because he cannot travel to the United Arab Emirates.

Asif was detained for 19 days in Dubai in June last year after authorities found a small quantity of opium in his possession.

He was released without charge but, at a hearing conducted by the PCB earlier this year, Asif could not prove he was not deported.

Pakistan are scheduled to play three one-dayers and two Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in November.

“Asif cannot play in the series against New Zealand because he cannot go to UAE,” Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt said.

“He was deported from Dubai and, according to regulations, he cannot enter that country.”

Asif returned to the Pakistan team for the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa after serving a one-year ban for testing positive for nandrolone during the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League last year.