IPL sets October 11 date for Asif hearing

Mohammad Asif will be appearing before the IPL drugs tribunal on October 11 after testing positive for the banned steroid, nandrolone, during the tournament.

Asif's lawyer Shahid Karim told reporters that the fast bowler received a letter from the IPL asking him to appear before the tribunal on the said date. Sunder Raman, the IPL chief executive, confirmed the date and said the meeting would be held in Mumbai.

Originally scheduled for August 30, soon after his B sample also tested positive, the hearing was pushed back after a request from Asif. A decision will be arrived at by the three-man panel set up by the IPL comprising former India opener Sunil Gavaskar, doctor Ravi Bapat and lawyer Shirish Gupte.

Besides his lawyer, Asif will be accompanied by his consultant, Dr Graham Durgan, and if found guilty he is likely to be handed a two-year ban from the IPL which will apply to both domestic and international cricket.