Lahore, Jan. 31: A day after the Indian Premier League (IPL) slapped a ban on Pakistani speedster Mohammad Asif for testing positive for taking a banned substance to enhance performance, he (Asif) appeared before a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) committee which is probing his 19-day detention in Dubai last June for the illegal possession of a banned substance (opium).

The three-man committee, which first met on last Thursday, heard Asif's plea and decided that the final decision would be taken after consulting the board's chairman, Ejaz Butt.

"Asif gave his statement and produced documents indicating that he had a visa to visit Dubai and negating reports which said that he couldn''t travel to Dubai again after he was deported following his detention last year," The Nation quoted, PCB's chief operating officer Saleem Altaf, as saying.

"The inquiry committee would meet again on February 6 to reach a decision and recommend it to the board Chairman Ejaz Butt," he added.

The PCB has already obtained a detailed report about Asif's detention on the Dubai Airport, where he was held for possessing 0.24 grams of opium last year. (ANI)