The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : PCB under fire for allowing Asif to play in IPL

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 19, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

PCB under fire for allowing Asif to play in IPL

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has come under fire for allowing paceman Mohammad Asif to play in the DLF-Indian Premier League (IPL) just days after recovering from a serious elbow problem that kept him out of cricket for nearly six months.

Asif, who is playing for Delhi Daredevils, is believed to have suffered a recurrence of his elbow problem after appearing in a few IPL matches in which he bowled with an elbow supporter. Former Test captain Rashid Latif said he didn’t think it was prudent for the Board to allow Asif permission to play in the IPL, but admitted only a player could tell finally if he was 100 per cent fit or not.

The News also questioned the wisdom of PCB in allowing Asif play in the IPL.

A senior Board official, however, made it clear that Asif was told to make his own decision only after two leading hospitals studied his MRI scans and cleared him of the elbow problem for which he required a key-hole surgery in Australia earlier this year. “Asif was told clearly it is his decision if he plays in IPL, buthe was keen to go there because of his contract with Delhi. We cleared him only after he played two games against Bangladesh and was fit,” the official said.

He said the PCB was concerned with reports about Asif’s fitness issues as the National team has a hectic schedule with the Asia Cup and Champions Trophy coming up. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport