Asif's Dubai verdict due next week

Mohammad Asif arrives for the hearing earlier today

The Pakistan Cricket Board will make a decision on fast bowler Mohammad Asif in the Dubai drugs case next week.

Asif was detained for 19 days at Dubai International Airport after 0.24 grams of a powder was found in his wallet.

Asif was returning to Pakistan from Mumbai after playing for Delhi Daredevils in the semi-final of the Indian Premier League.

No charges were brought against the speedster and he was deported to Pakistan.

The PCB appointed a three-member committee, headed by chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi, to look into the case and decide if any punishment would be dished out.

Last week, the PCB received a report from Dubai police and customs officials on the case.

"We have heard Asif's version on the issue," said Naghmi. "I will not go into the details of the hearing, but basically Asif has pleaded his innocence.

"However, we will go through all the aspects before preparing our report."

Naghmi added that the committee is likely to submit its findings to the board on Monday after which the PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf would announce action, if any, against the bowler.

Asif has all along maintained his innocence. He said the substance found on his possession was given to him by a hakeem, a traditional Islamic healer.

It will be an important week for Asif, as he will have his B sample tested on Monday following his failed IPL dope test in May.

The Pakistan fast bowler tested positive for nandrolone following the Daredevils' semi-final defeat to the Rajasthan Royals, his second doping offence in two years.

The 25-year-old tested positive for nandrolone in 2006 during an out-of-competition test conducted by the PCB - he was initially banned for two years but the sentence was overturned on appeal.