Pakistan undecided about playing Asif

Mohammad Asif will be available for selection for Pakistan's opening game of the Champions Trophy at the Wanderers on Wednesday, but the on-tour team management is undecided whether to thrust him back into international cricket after a lay-off of more than a year.

Asif was banned by the IPL for testing positive for the steroid nandrolone last year, the second time in his short career he has been found guilty of a doping offence. Asif is already in Johannesburg with the team, contradicting earlier reports that he would arrive in the country on September 22, the day his ban ends. He has not, however, been training with the team, one of the reasons why Pakistan are unsure whether to include him for the match against West Indies.

"It's the last day of the ban today and he becomes available for selection tomorrow," Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach said. "His comeback is good for Pakistan cricket and the type of the bowler he is, it'll be a challenge for him to make a successful return."

The basic dilemma, a member of the team management told Cricinfo, is whether to play him against a relatively weak West Indies side in the opener to get him into some kind of match rhythm for tougher games ahead against India and Australia. "If we don't play him on Wednesday then the risk of putting him straight into a big match against India is a big one.

"Theoretically he is available for selection tomorrow," said Alam. "He is a match-winner and he has that ability to change games. We're looking forward to having him back.

Pakistan have not yet decided on an XI for tomorrow and they are already contemplating a line-up without Younis Khan, their captain, who is out with a hairline finger fracture. Shahid Afridi will lead the side in his place.