Karachi, Dec 12 : Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik believes his team can become a potent force in world cricket with the return of strike bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

Pakistan have been missing the services of both Shoaib and Asif in recent times due to injury or suspension, The News reported.

Shoaib is on a comeback trail after settling some issues with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and is recovering from injury problems.

Lahore, Dec. 6 : Suspended Pakistani pace bowler Mohammad Asif broke down in tears on television, while apologizing for his alleged dope charges.

Asif admitted he had shamed himself and let down his supporters and Pakistan cricket.

“My behaviour has not been perfect and I have made mistake after mistake. I am sorry for that to the nation,” Asif admitted.

Mohammad Asif is also facing a disciplinary action for spending 19 days in police custody in Dubai for possession of a banned substance (opium) in June this year.

In the wake of terror attacks in Mumbai, dope-tainted pacer Mohammad Asif has cancelled his visit to Mumbai as the hearing of the drugs inquiry tribunal of the IPL has been delayed.

Asif was scheduled to leave for India on Thursday to appear before the drug inquiry tribunal on November 29.

Speaking with the media persons, Asif said, ''After the Mumbai attacks, I called them up to find out the status quo of the drugs tribunal hearing and they told me they will convey fresh dates later on to me."

Islamabad, Nov. 27 : Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif''s hearing into a doping allegation was postponed Thursday after terror attacks in Mumbai killed more than
100 people.

Asif was due to appear before the Indian Premier League''s drug tribunal on Saturday.

“The hearing has been postponed after a very sad incident in Mumbai,'''' The News quoted lawyer Shahid Karim, as saying, and adding that the new date would be announced in due time.

Karachi, Nov 23 : Amid claims made by disgraced and suspended Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif that he was being approached by the “rebel” Indian Cricket League (ICL) with a lucrative offer, reliable sources have said that Asif was simply blackmailing the PCB by spreading false rumours about the “ICL offer”.

A source close to former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, who is the sole ICL recruiting agent in the country, said that the rebel league had no intentions of signing up the dope-tainted Pakistan pacer.

Asif is presently locked in an expensive legal battle to avoid a possible two-year ban after testing positive for a banned drug while playing in the official Indian Premier League (IPL) this May.

Lahore, Nov 21 : PCB has reportedly slapped a whopping bill on suspended Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif for the legal costs incurred for his release from detention in Dubai earlier this year.

Asif was detained at the Dubai airport for 19 days for carrying a drug-like substance.

Following his detention, the Board had hired the legal firm “Afridi and Angel” to represent him in the case contested with the Dubai police.