Pakistan Cricket Board has come under fire for allowing pacer Muhammad Asif to play in the Indian Premier League just days after recovering from a serious elbow problem that kept him out of cricket for nearly six months.
Asif, who is playing for the Delhi Daredevils team, is believed to have suffered a recurrence of his elbow problem after appearing in a few IPL matches in which he bowled with an elbow supporter.
Former Test captain Rashid Latif said he didn't think it was prudent for the board to allow Asif permission to play in the IPL but admitted only a player could tell finally if he was 100 percent fit or not.
'The News' also questioned the wisdom of PCB in allowing Asif play in the IPL.
A senior board official, however, made it clear that Asif was told to make his own decision only after two leading hospitals studied his MRI scans and cleared him of the elbow problem for which the pacer required a key hole surgery in Australia earlier this year.
"Asif was told clearly it is his decision if he plays in IPL but obviously he was keen to go there because of his contract with Delhi team. We cleared him only after he played two games against Bangladesh and was fit," the official said.
He said the board was concerned with reports about Asif's fitness issues as the national team has a hectic schedule with the Asia Cup and Champions Trophy coming up.
"We are keeping in touch to ensure the situation does not get out of hand."
Asif suffered from a chronic elbow problem since 2006. He didn't play cricket from October last year and only made a comeback against Bangladesh last month.
