Pakistan recall Asif

Paceman Mohammad Asif has not played for his country since April last year

Controversial paceman Mohammad Asif has been selected in Pakistan’s squad for the Champions Trophy, paving the way for his return to international cricket.

The 26-year-old is currently serving a one-year ban for failing a drugs test during the Indian Premier League last year.

That ban expires on September 22, the opening day of the Champions Trophy in South Africa, with Asif’s place confirmed yesterday when he passed a fitness test supervised by National Cricket Academy chief Rashid Latif.

The right-armer has not played for his country since April last year, when he took 3-35 in a one-day international against Bangladesh in Karachi.

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s seven-member selection panel chose experience over youth for the tournament as they resisted wholesale changes to the team which lost the one-day series away in Sri Lanka earlier this month.

Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul Haq retain their places, but all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was dropped.

Top-order batsman Nasir Jamshed missed out due to injury.

Pakistan squad: Younus Khan (captain), Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Imran Nazir, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Iftikhar Anjum, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif.