Karachi, July 2: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday paved the way for Mohammad Asif’s comeback in the national team for the Champions Trophy later this year after levying the controversial fast bowler $12,500 for his involvement in a drug case in Dubai.

The PCB said it had fined Asif on the recommendations of a three-member probe committee that found him guilty of bringing the country and Pakistan cricket into disrepute last year when he was detained in Dubai for possession of 0.23 grams of hashish.

Asif spent 19 days in detention in Dubai in June last year while returning from India after playing in the inaugural Indian Premier League, where he had also failed a dope test.

"The fine of $12,500 is for his misconduct and possession of hashish in Dubai. But Asif will be clear to play for Pakistan once he completes his 12-month ban for the failed dope test," PCB chief operating officer Saleem Altaf said.

Asif was banned for 12 months by the drugs tribunal of the IPL for failing a dope test. His ban started from September last year although the pacer had appealed his suspension be considered from July when the PCB had also stopped him from playing.

"We will be sending his name in the provisional list of players for the Champions Trophy to the ICC as his ban ends on September 22 and the event begins from the 24th," Altaf said.

Altaf said he didn’t see any reason for Asif not to be considered for the Champions Trophy. "On technical grounds his ban ends on September 22 after which he is a free man. So we will definitely want him in the playing squad," he added. He pointed out that as far as the Dubai case was concerned the fine was imposed as a punishment, although the Dubai authorities had not pressed any criminal charges against the pacer. The committee was headed by former Test player Wasim Bari, who is also director human resources in the board.

The committee had delayed giving recommendations to the PCB as it had asked Asif to provide evidence from Dubai confirming he could enter the Emirates again.

Asif didn’t submit the documents but his passport has a valid UAE visa stamped on it.

— PTI