Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif and opener batsman Imran Farhat are to return to playing cricket for Pakistan after serving 2 years of ban from cricket. The two will play against New Zealand for the first test starting on 24th November, 2009 at Dunedin. Asif was not allowed to play for 2 years because of several drug-related controversies.
Asif was punished for testing positive for a banned drug nandrolone last September. He also had to spend 19 days in detention at Dubai in June of 2008 for possessing a small amount of smuggled goods which were last used at a test match in Lahore against South Africa dated October 2007. Asif made a healthy comeback to the one-day international squad for Pakistan at the Champions Trophy held in September this year. The ban on travelling to Dubai is still in effect and the pacer was made to sit out at the recent ODI series against New Zealand, the series being held in United Arab Emirates. Asif was selected for the test match owing to impressive form while practicing on the Nets and his notable performance at the 3-day tour match.
Farhat is suffering from the wrath of Pakistan Cricket Board for taking part at the Indian Cricket League in early 2007. He was banned from all forms of cricket by the PCB for playing for the rebel league. A half-century at a 3-day tour match got the selectors notice him and he was selected for the squad. It is said that he was selected over Salman Butt who apparently had some arguments with the team management over his batting number.
Farhat is expected to open the test match along with Khurrum Manzoor and Asif will be seen leading the bowling attack with Umar Gul while keeping Saeed Ajmal to take care of spin bowling. While in his dormant period, Asif practiced his tactics while playing on the domestic cricket pitch. He played for the Quaid-e-Azam trophy and took 23 wickets within 5 matches. βThe good thing is that I have been playing regularly in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches. That has helped me find my rhythm and form and get my confidence back. There is nothing better for a bowler then to bowl in the longer version of the game.β
At the ongoing third test match against New Zealand in Dunedin, Asif has performed marvelously by taking 3 wickets in 24 overs bowled, thus helping his team restrict the opponents to 276 runs at the loss of 6 wickets at the end of first day of play. Farhat has yet to put his bat to work.