By IANS,
New Delhi : Pakistani cricketer Mohammed Asif, detained Saturday evening at the airport here for failing to produce necessary travel documents, was let off, airport sources said.
“Asif was detained for not having complete travel documents. He spent many hours at the Indira Gandhi Airport before the Pakistan High Commission intervened,” said an airport official.
“Asif had valid visa for playing cricket in India. But since he was on a personal visit here, immigration officials detained him after he landed in the capital via Mumbai Saturday evening,” added the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to immigration officials, Asif can travel to India for next five years as an international cricketer to play matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Asif, a 26-year-old pacer, is in India to meet the management of the Delhi Daredevils – an IPL team he has played for – to recover some $200,000 which the team owes him.
Asif has been engaged in a legal battle in Pakistan to avoid a possible two-year ban over dope charges.