Dope-tainted Asif to appear before Indian commission

An Indian doping tribunal will hear Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif's appeal in Mumbai on November 29, a lawyer said on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old is facing a two-year ban after he tested positive during the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in May-June this year. His appeal came up for review last month but was put off for a month.

Asif's lawyer Shahid Karim said that he hoped of a swift result.

"We have worked on legal and medical aspects of the case and hope that after the November 29 hearing the drug tribunal will reach some conclusion," Karim said.

Since the positive drug test, the fast-rising paceman's career has been on hold as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) banned him from all cricket until the result of the doping tribunal.

Asif has also sought legal support from the PCB in the fight to clear his name.

The Indian doping tribunal, comprising former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, Dr. Ravi Bapat and lawyer Shirish Gupte, had to adjourn the first hearing after Asif's lawyer challenged its jurisdiction.

Karim said Asif was hopeful of a fair hearing.

"Evidence will be recorded during the hearing and we will present witnesses. It is our chance to fight the case and we will do it with full force," Karim said.

"It's a matter of Asif's international career and we hope something positive will come out after the hearing," said Karim who had hoped the difference in concentration of nandrolone in each sample, A and B, will help Asif.

Asif's fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar also tested positive for nandrolone in 2006. Asif was banned for one year and Akhtar for two years but their bans were overturned on appeal.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam also hopes Asif clears his name.

"Asif is a match winner and a very good bowler. We hope he gets his name cleared and we are able to field him in our matches soon," Alam said before the team's departure for Abu Dhabi where Pakistan will play the West Indies.

The first of three one-day internationals starts on Wednesday.