Asif hearing to resume on November 29

The IPL's drugs tribunal has set November 29 as the date for hearing Mohammad Asif's appeal in Mumbai. The tribunal, comprising former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, the former vice-chancellor of India's Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Dr Ravi Bapat, and lawyer Shirish Gupte, had adjourned the hearing after Asif had appeared before them on October 11.

The announcement comes two days after Asif had written to the PCB asking it to help him resume his career. He last played for Pakistan in April, before taking part in the IPL.

The IPL had announced in July that Asif had tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone during its first season, held from April 18 to June 1. His B sample also showed traces of the drug but the levels varied between both samples. Shahid Karim, Asif's lawyer, said that the discrepancy could work to Asif's advantage.

"It's a matter of Asif's international career and we hope something positive will come out after the hearing," he said. "Evidence will be recorded during the hearing and we will present witnesses. It is our chance to fight the case and we will do it with full force.

"We have worked on legal and medical aspects of the case and hope that after the November 29 hearing the drug tribunal will reach some conclusion," he said.

Asif was suspended by the PCB from all forms of the game pending the result of the IPL inquiry. He previously tested positive for nandrolone just before the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. Though he was banned for one year by a PCB tribunal, the punishment was overturned a month later on appeal.