Asif off the hook, may be deported tonight

“The public prosecutor has decided against pressing any charges against Asif as such and it has been decided to deport him immediately,” Zafar said.

Asif was in detention since June 1 when he was caught with contraband drugs at Dubai airport on his way back home from India after playing in the IPL.

Another official of Pakistan’s embassy in Dubai, Salahuddin Khan said the paper work for the cricketer’s deportation was complete.

“We are hopeful that Mohammad Asif will be released before midnight in Dubai,” said Salahuddin, who was assisting Asif on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board. The news of Asif’s deportation will also bring some relief for the PCB as it was trying to get the pacer released early.

“The case has been dropped against Mohammad Asif due to insignificance… he will be deported as soon as the police finalise the procedures,” public prosecutor Mohammad Al Nuaimi, who handled the case in Dubai, was quoted as saying by the Gulf News.

“It is definite that he committed the crime of smuggling and possessing 0.24 grams of opium as he was caught red-handed… however in certain cases and for a faster litigation process the public prosecution drops a case due to insignificance and deports the suspect,” he said.

The PCB has said it would hold its own internal inquiry once Asif returns home but refused to comment any further on the issue insisting they still did not know all the facts of the incident. Asif was en route to Pakistan after playing in the IPL when he was detained.