Asif aims to sort financial issues with IPL team

Mohammad Asif will travel to Delhi on Thursday to meet with officials from the Delhi Daredevils, the IPL team he is contracted to, with the aim of resolving "financial issues."

Asif's future with the Daredevils currently hangs in limbo after he tested positive for a banned steroid last year during the first edition of the tournament. He has appealed against the finding though his case has yet to be resolved by a three-man tribunal appointed by the IPL.

"I am going to Delhi to try and sort out some financial issues with the Daredevils," Asif told Cricinfo. "I'll be there for a couple of days but the visit has nothing to do with my IPL tribunal hearing." Asif's lawyer, Shahid Karim, will be travelling along with him.

The Delhi Daredevils bought Asif for US$650,000 on a three-year contract, making him the second-most expensive Pakistan player in the league after Shahid Afridi. His fortunes were mixed, picking up eight wickets in the eight of 15 games he played, but at times, alongside Farvez Maharoof and Glenn McGrath, formed part of a fine fast-medium bowling trio.

It is believed that the Daredevils have yet to pay Asif outstanding dues from last season, but that the payment may be linked to the fate of his doping case. A team official said they were unaware as of now of Asif's travel plans. "The meeting with Asif is not confirmed yet. I'm not sure of his plans to travel to Delhi," Amrit Mathur, Daredevils' chief operating officer, told Cricinfo.

The bowler is understandably keen to sort the matter out; after the results of his positive dope test, the Pakistan board suspended him from all cricket and stopped his central contract earnings. He was not on the list of contracted players announced earlier this month and thus has no earning through cricket currently.

Asif will travel to India again to attend the January 24 hearing of the IPL tribunal, which has now been shifted back to Mumbai from London. The hearing was delayed and shifted to London after the Mumbai attacks, but the switch back to Mumbai has prompted Asif to seek permission from the PCB to travel there. He is still eligible to travel to Delhi on an existing visa, which will expire before the Mumbai hearing, forcing him to apply for another.

"I have written a letter and sent it to the board seeking permission to travel to India for my hearing. They haven't responded yet," Asif said.