I was treated unfairly in the steroids case: Asif

MELBOURNE: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has claimed that he was unfairly treated for testing positive to steroids.

He vowed to “tell everything” about his drug dramas. Banned for a year for testing positive to steroid nandrolone during the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, Asif has only just returned to Test cricket. The lanky paceman began his Test career against Australia at Sydney in January 2005. Before returning to the Test fold against New Zealand last month after playing againstSouth Africa at Lahore in October 2007, Asif had claimed 51 wickets in 11 Tests. “I had a very strong case, but they didn’t actually listen. Nobody was with me, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was on the back foot. I was just alone and had to handle the whole thing. I will tell everything when the time comes. It’s not the right time … It was a very difficult time for me,” The Courier Mail quoted Asif, as saying on Saturday. “There were lots of things in my mind at that time. Sometimes I thought I would not be back. That was a tough period but I continued my training and practice. Now, I am very happy and I am playing good cricket,” he added. There is little doubt that the lean fast bowler, who holds an outstanding bowling average of 22.22 after taking 70 wickets in 14 Tests, can be a serious menace to Australia’s batsmen. Known for his deadly accurate bowling, the 26-year-old Asif says he wants to make up for the lost time. After taking a series-high 19 wickets at 19.78 in the three-Test series against the Kiwis, Asif vows he will bowl even better against Australia as he is only now reaching peak fitness.—Agencies