The Pakistan Cricket Board has on Friday ordered a fresh inquiry into fast bowler Mohammad Asif's detention in Dubai.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has on Friday ordered a fresh inquiry into fast bowler Mohammad Asif's detention in Dubai.

The new regime of the PCB has come under severe pressure to penalise the fast bowler after documents pertaining to his 19-day detention in Dubai was made public by United Arab Emirates officials last week.

Asif was detained after 0.24 grams of opium was found in his possession and, during interrogation, had confessed to using the substance although he said he believed it was a remedy given to him by a traditional Islamic healer.

PCB asked for clarification

No charges were pressed against Asif and he was deported without trial.

The PCB under former chief Nasim Ashraf had conducted their own inquiry into the matter but Ashraf had resigned without taking a decision on the findings of the probe.

The present setup led by chairman Ijaz Butt had refused to take action against the 26-year-old fast bowler.

However, with Pakistan politicians and the International Cricket Council demanding a probe, the PCB have swung into action.

The PCB have now appointed a three-member team comprising former Test cricketer and director of human resources Wasim Bari, the PCB's medical expert Dr Sohail Saleem and Asif Sohail, a member of the PCB's media department.

"The committee will start work immediately," a PCB spokesman said.

"No time frame has been given to them to complete their findings," he added.

Asif has already been suspended from all forms of cricket by the PCB for failing a drugs test during the Indian Premier League.

He is scheduled to appear before the IPL drugs panel for a hearing on January 24 in Mumbai

ECB seeks umpire Simon Taufel's views

ECB seeks umpire Simon Taufel's views

The ECB is holding a Test match seminar on 19th January, says Colin Gibson, the Head of Corporate Communication of the ECB.

By Bipin Dani

"We are holding a Test match seminar day in England to discuss the ways in which the game can ensure Test match cricket remains the pre eminent form of the game", he said from London.

"The discussion day will provide recommendations for the ECB Board and we will decide what actions to take", he further added. Without identifying the list of speakers, he added, "the invitees are from all areas of the game".

According to the sources in London, ICC's Australian Elite Panel umpire Simon Taufel is likely to put his views to protect the game of Test cricket. He will be on his way from Dubai, where he was also invited by the ICC to discuss the development and standard of umpiring, it is learnt.

"This meeting (seminar) is an internal meeting between the ECB and representatives from various first-class counties to discuss ways in which Test cricket can be maintained as the preominent format of the game going forward. It will simply be a forum to develop discussion points that can be presented to the board as part of the ECB's commitment to maintaining Test cricket's standing in the game", James Avery, the ECB Media Relations Manager said.

Former England captains Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton as well as national selector Geoff Miller are also the guest speakers on this day. Views from no Asian players are sought.

"As far as I am aware, this is an ECB initiative that is seeking to improve its own Test cricket status and how that impacts on world Test cricket. I don't think that there are any invitees from the sub continent. The ECB seems to be taking a proactive approach to ensuring that Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the sport in England and with the ICC....and good on them for looking at this !", someone concerned and close to the process of saving Test cricket said exclusively.

Michael Clarke has passed a fitness test on his injured thumb and will line up in the opening match of the one-day series with SA.

Michael Clarke has passed a fitness test on his injured thumb and will line up in the opening match of the one-day series with SA.

Twenty20 sensation David Warner, who had been placed on standby for Clarke, has been released from the Australia squad and was expected to return to Sydney this afternoon.

Queensland quick Ryan Harris has been left out of the 12 named for the match, with the make-up of the final 11 to be determined, according to skipper Ricky Ponting, by the conditions.

Clarke underwent a 30-minute test at the MCG today before joining his team mates in the nets.

"He'll be fine to play," said Ponting. "He's completed all his training well today.

Feel the momentum

"He's still got a bit of discomfort in his thumb but he's had that from the start of the Perth Test match and got through really well.

"It's good signs for us that he's fit for selection."

Ponting said he could feel the momentum turning Australia's way.

The hosts lost the first two Tests - and the Test series - to South Africa, but have won three successive matches, with victory in the third Test and the two Twenty20 internationals.

The skipper does not expect his side to have too much trouble adjusting to the ODI series in the wake of the back-to-back Twenty20s.

Kaka has insisted that he wants to "grow old"

Kaka has insisted that he wants to "grow old" at AC Milan after rumours linked him with a lucrative move to Manchester City.
His statement is being widely accepted as a rejection of Manchester City's audacious approach for the former world footballer of the year. City were believed to be prepared to pay £500,000-a-week to the 24-year-old.

Kaka confirmed he had received some "major offers" but these had been turned down.

"I want to grow old at Milan," Kaka told Italian TV station MediaSet, owned by AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi.

"My aim is to become, at some point in the future, the captain of this team.

"I know there is a pecking order, with (Paolo) Maldini at the front at then (Massimo) Ambrosini, but after that...

"I have already turned down some major offers."

If Kaka sticks to this stance, it will be a blow to City's Abu Dhabi-based owners, who have put the South American at the top of their list of 'galacticos'.

It also shows City might not find it quite so easy to get the star names they want to Eastlands this month.

Manchester United will break new ground this summer

Manchester United will break new ground this summer when they visit Indonesia as part of their four-match Asia tour.

Although the Red Devils have visited the continent six times previously since 1995 and won the Club World Cup in Tokyo last month, they have never been to Indonesia, a country with a large United fanbase in a population of 200million.

The match in Jakarta against the Indonesia Super League Select will be played on July 24 and forms the third leg of a four-leg trip that begins in China on July 18 and heads to Seoul before the long flight south.

Didier Drogba has been axed from Chelsea's side

Didier Drogba has been axed from Chelsea's side to face Southend in an FA Cup third round reply on Wednesday.

The Ivorian striker has sensationally not even travelled with the squad for their crucial tie at Roots Hall.

Drogba has become the first victim of Luiz Felipe Scolari's get-tough policy following their 3-0 mauling by Manchester United on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo is allegedly set

Cristiano Ronaldo is allegedly set to join Real Madrid at the end of the season, this according to a Spanish journalist.

Guillem Balague, a football expert for Sky Sports' Spanish football team who is working in London as a correspondent for Don Balón, has claimed on his website that the Man United superstar's representative Jorge Mendes has been successful in negotiations with Real Madrid supremo Ramon Calderon and the Portuguese winger will complete the transfer in the summer.