Asif's crucial fitness test conducted

Lahore, Aug. 10 (ANI): Pakistan's national cricket selectors Mohammad Illyas and Azhar Khan watched fast bowler Mohammad Asif bowl in a match in Lahore on Sunday.

"He bowled a seven-over spell and the report from the selectors is a positive one," The News quoted chief selector Iqbal Qasim, as saying.

"Asif has not played any cricket for a year now so we are anxious to know about his match fitness because we will not take a risk with any unfit player for such a big tournament," he added.

The 26-year-old pacer, whose career had plummeted after he failed a dope test during the Indian Premier League's (IPL) inaugural season, is hoping to find a place in Pakistani team after serving a one-year ban imposed by the PCB.

The PCB had already included Asif's name in the preliminary list of 30 probables for the Champions Trophy.

But he will have to meet certain physical fitness levels to make his ODI comeback.

"He is a key bowler for us and he has been given a program to work on to improve his fitness and endurance level at the academy. He has to meet certain deadlines to qualify for the Pakistan team," Qasim said. (ANI)