PCB official returns home tonight, Asif's fate in limbo

With detained pacer Mohammad Asif's fate in limbo, senior Pakistan Cricket Board official Nadeem Akram, rushed here to bail out the detained cricketer, will return home tonight leaving behind a mission unaccomplished.

After yet another day of no action from either the Dubai Attorney General or the Public Prosecutor's office on Asif's fate, Akram said that he would return Pakistan tonight even though he was optimistic about the early release of the cricketer.

"I am returning home tonight, but I am hopeful of an early release (for Asif)," said Akram, adding that an official of the Pakistan embassy in Abu Dhabi will now follow the case.

Akram said there was no word from the Dubai Attorney General and Public Prosecutor's office on whether to trial the Pakistani pacer or deport him even as Asif's lawyers were pursuing the case.

Asif remains detained at the Dubai airport since June 1 for allegedly possessing contraband drugs. The pacer was on his way home after playing in the Indian Premier League when he was intercepted by the airport officials.