PCB attempts to revoke UAE travelling restrictions on Asif - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that it will soon make an attempt to get fast bowler Mohammad Asif's name cleared by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities as the national team has several series lined up in the country. Asif was banned from entering the UAE after being stopped with a small quantity of opium at Dubai international airport in June 2008. The 27-year-old had spent 19 days in detention and was barred from re-entering UAE, though no criminal charges were pressed. "Asif is an important member of the team," The Daily Times quoted Wasim Bari, PCB chief operating officer, as saying. "We have some series lined up in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in coming months. We will play England in two Twenty20 Internationals in February in Dubai," he added. Bari further said that the board had failed to get Asif clear to play in a series against New Zealand played in UAE last year. "We will make another attempt and try to request the authorities in Dubai to remove the conditions that bar Asif from travelling there," he said.