A topsy-turvy ride: Asif’s timeline

Mumbai: Mohammad Asif has done it again. Authorities of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have confirmed that the Pakistan fast bowler had failed a dope test during the two-month event that took place between April and June earlier this year.

Here are brief highlights from his topsy-turvy career.

2004-05: Impressive Test debut versus Australia at Sydney. He bowled 18 overs without taking a wicket but drew praises from all quarters immediately.

2005-06: Picked up 7 wickets against India at Karachi to announce his arrival in Test cricket. Pakistan went on to win the Test series and avenged their previous loss to India. Asif drew comparisons with Australian legend Glenn McGrath for his accuracy, smooth run-up and action.

2005-06: In the same Karachi Test against India, Asif was fined by match referee Chris Broad for ‘overappealing’ and ‘premature celebration of a wicket.’

2005-06: Pakistan became only the third team in over a decade to win a Test series in Sri Lanka. Mohammad Asif took 17 wickets in the two Tests and led Pakistan to a 1-0 series victory.

2006: He made history by becoming the first bowler to bowl a maiden over in Twenty20 cricket during the one-off match at Bristol during Pakistan’s tour of England. In fact he managed to pick up two wickets during that over, first of Kevin Pietersen for a golden duck and then of Andrew Strauss, also without scoring.

© AFP Asif's career has been a well-documented 'tale'

2006: A lot was made of the duel between Mohammad Asif and England’s star batsman Kevin Pietersen in matches between them. Asif dismissed Pietersen on five occasions during Pakistan’s tour of England, with three of those dismissals coming from the first ball without scoring.

2006-07: On October 16, Asif was suspended by the PCB along with team-mate Shoaib Akhtar, and was pulled out from the Champions Trophy after the pair failed drug tests for the performance-enhancing substance Nandrolone.

2006-07: Banned for two years by PCB ahead of Champions Trophy; Appellate panel lifted the ban later. Asif and Shoaib were added to Pakistan Olympic Association list of doping offenders. The tribunal set to investigate steroid use revealed that Asif had been using a protein supplement, Promax-50.

2006-07: WADA, World Anti-Doping Agency unhappy with decision to life Asif’s ban. Asks ICC to support them in ensuring a ‘drug free sport’.

2006-07: On 6 December, Asif spoke out in his defence in an interview with the BBC. When asked to explain the presence of Nandrolone in his body, Asif cited a lack of awareness in Asian countries and said that he had taken some vitamins and protein supplements during the team's 2006 tour of England, which led to the problem. 

2006-07: Splendid comeback! Claims 19 wickets in three Tests during the tour of South Africa. However, Pakistan was whitewashed 0-3 by the hosts. The feat lifted him to eighth in the LG ICC Test player rankings after only nine appearances - equalling the record for the fewest matches taken by a Pakistan bowler to reach the top 10, shared by Waqar Younis and Pervez Sajjad.

2006-07: Following Asif’s immaculate display of fast bowling in South Africa, former great Imran Khan praised the lad, calling him the best young bowler in the world. "Asif is well on his way to become one of the greats. If he gains a little bit of pace through weight training he can be more lethal."

2006-07: Drops out of World Cup squad because of elbow injury, but it was suspected to be on fears that steroids were still in his body

2007: In August, Asif was offered 100 million rupees (US$2,432,285) to play in Indian Cricket League (ICL), before he joined the Indian Premier League (IPL) instead. He was subsequently drafted by the Delhi DareDevils for US $650,000.

2007: Appointed vice-captain of the Pakistan team.

2007-08: Shoaib Akhtar hits Asif with bat before the ICC World Twenty20 championship in South Africa. Akhtar is subsequently banned by PCB.

2007-08: Asif misses out on a lot of action owing to elbow injury

2007-08: Returns from injury against Bangladesh

2007-08: Turns out for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League

2008: On June 1, Asif was detained at Dubai International Airport on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs. An unknown substance was found in Asif's wallet, and was sent for analysis along with a sample of Asif's urine.

2008: On June 3, arrested in Dubai for allegedly possessing opium.

2008: On June 19, the charges against Asif were dropped by the Dubai public prosecutor due to "insignificance." Asif returned to Pakistan the following day and thanked those who had aided his release, he also stated, "I did not use any banned substance. During the Indian Premier League, I underwent two doping tests, and cleared both of them...If I had been tested positive, the ICC would not have cleared me.”

2008: On July 14, authorities of the Indian Premier League confirm that it was indeed Mohammad Asif who failed a dope test during the inaugural edition of the tournament. Cricketnirvana.com was the first to report on this riveting development.