Asif's B sample test postponed to August 18

Mohammad Asif's B sample test has been postponed till August 18 after the Indian Premier League accepted his request for more time in order to obtain a visa to travel to Switzerland, where he will be assessed at a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory. This is the second occasion that Asif's test has been set back; it was shifted to August 6 after being originally scheduled for July 28.

Asif's lawyer, Shahid Karim, who is set to accompany him to Switzerland, was confident of securing visas on time. "The Swiss embassy conducted Asif's interview on Monday [August 4] and have agreed to issue the visas. That is a big burden off us as we want to be present for the B sample test, which is our right," Karim told the Karachi-based Dawn newspaper.

Karim was critical of the Pakistan board's stance on Asif. "It seems the PCB has distanced itself from Asif in this case. According to the board's rules and regulations, we are not subject to request the board for any help," he said. "It is PCB's responsibility or rather choice, on whether they want to support us and send an official with us to Switzerland or not."

However, the PCB defended its position. "Until now, neither he [Asif] nor his lawyer have approached us for any assistance in securing visas for Switzerland or otherwise," Nadeem Akram, the board's director - human resources, said. "If they do request us for assistance we will consider helping him."

The board, though, maintained that Asif will have to fight the case on his own. "He is one of our valued players but since we have no jurisdiction in the IPL and they are communicating directly with him and his lawyer, he was advised to handle things himself and fight his case."

Asif is looking to clear his name after he was found to have used a banned substance during random dope testing at the IPL, where he played for the Delhi Daredevils. He is currently under suspension for the offence, and is due to appear before an IPL tribunal to face those charges and is likely to face some punishment from the PCB thereafter.