Asif clears ‘tough’ fitness test enhancing chances for Champions Trophy

September 30th, 2009 CENTURION - Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has cleared the dope test conducted on him earlier this week here. The Pakistani team management has received the test reports late on Tuesday, The News reports.

September 23rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif is set to return to international cricket on Wednesday in the Champions Trophy match against the West Indies. The Pakistani team is yet to announce the final eleven for the match, but chances are that Asif, whose doping ban expired on Tuesday, would feature in the game.

September 12th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistans comeback pacer Mohammad Asif has been asked by the cricket board to attend the training camp involving the countrys under-19 cricketers to prepare for the Champions Trophy that begins in South Africa Sep 22. According to sources, Asif has been told to regain his rhythm by bowling extensively during the under-19 camp.

August 31st, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has directed tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif to keep away from the media till his 12-month ban expires on September 22. According to sources, PCB Director Cricket Operations, Zakir Khan, has asked Asif to avoid the media till his ban ends.

August 26th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Tainted Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif has vowed not to repeat his past mistakes which saw him being banned from international cricket for a year. In an interview with PakPassion.net, Asif expressed happiness over his selection in the 15 member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy and said he would justify the selectors' decision through his performance.

August 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Supporting the selection committee's decision to bring back tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif into the national squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, chief selector Iqbal Qasim has said the decision to include Asif was taken only after a close monitoring of the bowler in the fitness camp. Qasim said Asif has been made to go through a rigorous fitness test in which he performed satisfactorily.

August 20th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan cricket chief selector Iqbal Qasim has ruled out ontroversial speedster Shoaib Akhtar's chances of getting into the ICC Champions Trophy squad. Qasim said there is only a 'remote' possibility of Akhtar getting a place in the team through a 'wild card'.

August 19th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif to join a coaching camp for young players to ascertain his fitness level before the ICC Champions Trophy. "Asif is attending the training camp for Under-23 players in Karachi where we have asked camp commandant Rashid Latif to give us a report by Thursday (tomorrow) whether he is match fit for the Champions Trophy," The Daily Times quoted chief selector Iqbal Qasim, as saying.

August 18th, 2009 KARACHI - Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif, who is eyeing a place back in the national squad, has impressed chief selector Iqbal Qasim with his form and fitness in a low-profile match. Qasim along with other member of the selection committee, Saleem Jaffer, watched Asif play during a match between youngsters attending an Under-23 Emerging Players Camp, and looked satisfied with the speedsters performance.

August 15th, 2009 KARACHI - Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif's aspirations of a come back into the national team have received a jolt, with captain Younis Khan saying that he (Asif) must prove his fitness to secure a place in the team for the Champions Trophy. "Asif has to prove his form and fitness after long lay-off and after one-year ban," Khan said.

August 10th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan's national cricket selectors Mohammad Illyas and Azhar Khan watched fast bowler Mohammad Asif bowl in a match in Lahore on Sunday. "He bowled a seven-over spell and the report from the selectors is a positive one," The News quoted chief selector Iqbal Qasim, as saying.

August 9th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif will have to prove his physical fitness on Sunday before being considered for the ICC Champions Trophy. The 26-year-old pacer, whose career had plummeted after he failed a dope test during the Indian Premier League's (IPL) inaugural season, is hoping to find a place in Pakistani team after serving a one-year ban imposed by the PCB.

July 23rd, 2009 LAHORE - Expressing happiness over him being included in the initial list of 30 probables for the Champions Trophy, banned Pakistani left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Asif has said the call is like a "rebirth" for him. "You can say that it's a sort of rebirth for me.

July 10th, 2009 LAHORE - Controversial Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif would be considered for selection for the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in September-October in South Africa, interim chief selector Wasim Bari has said. "Asif's ban will expire on September 22, two days before the Trophy starts, so he will be considered for the squad, and Akhtar will also be considered once he proves his fitness," The Daily Times quoted Bari, as saying.

July 4th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan is seriously considering recalling Mohammad Asif in the 30-member preliminary squad for this Septembers ICC Champions Trophy after the International Cricket Council (ICC) said it would not raise any objection against the pacers inclusion once he completes his doping ban. An ICC spokesman has said that once Asif completes his one-year ban on Sep 22 this year, he will be eligible to take part in any international event including the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in South Africa.