Scandal-hit Pak paceman Asif to wed

The 27-year-old was one of three Pakistani players provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council after a British tabloid claimed no-balls were delivered to order during last month’s Lord’s Test against England.

The ICC is expected to form a commission to hear the case after Scotland Yard completes an investigation.

“I hope marriage will be the turning point in my career and change my life in a positive way,” Asif was quoted as saying by local television channels.

Several team-mates,including Test captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamir — the others suspended by the ICC – are expected to attend the festivites.

“Asif is very relaxed and is hopeful that he will be cleared of any spot-fixing charges. He hopes that his wedding will bring luck for him,” said a family friend,who did not want to be named.

Since his debut in 2005,Asif’s career has been dogged by controversy.

He twice failed dope tests and twice tested positive for a banned steroid.

In 2006,he was banned for one year — a punishment overturned on appeal.

But when he tested positive again in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008,his appeal against a one-year ban failed.

He was then arrested at Dubai airport for possessing a banned drug while returning from the IPL.

He was detained for 19 days and deported after police found the quantity of the banned drug “insufficient” to pursue a case.

Further scandal came when actress and model Veena Malik claimed he owed her huge amounts of money.

She also alleged that Asif was involved in match-fixing and was said to have handed evidence to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit earlier this month.