Suspended Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif [Images] apologised to the nation in an emotional breakdown on national television and promised to turn a new leaf.

Asif, appearing on a cricket talk show on Geo Super channel, admitted he had let down the nation with his behaviour and promised to be more careful in future.

"I apologise to the nation for my behaviour. I need to be more responsible and careful and you will see a new Asif in future," he said, when asked about his recent drug escapades.

Asif is suspended at present by the Pakistan Cricket Board for failing a dope test during the Indian Premier League. He also spent 19 days in detention in Dubai in June for allegedly possessing a small quantity of opium.

In 2006 also he had tested positive for a banned substance in a dope test conducted by the PCB but was later cleared on technical grounds after he appealed against the ban.

Asif was due to appear before the IPL drugs inquiry tribunal on November 29, but the hearing was postponed due to the Mumbai terror attacks [Images].

He said the tribunal had not informed him about a new date for the hearing as yet.

Asif claimed he had never intentionally taken any drugs but admitted he had got entangled into controversies because of his careless behaviour.

"Even in Dubai I was just carrying some medication prescribed by a local Hakeem from my village for the elbow injury I had. I didn't know what was in the medicine," he said.

He said he was himself shocked to learn that he had failed a dope test in the IPL as he insisted he never used banned substances.

The pace bowler felt that the IPL drugs inquiry tribunal procedure has dragged on needlessly and it was preventing him from returning to action.

"First of all I don't understand why the test results were disclosed so late. And now I feel for some reason the IPL drug inquiry tribunal hearings are dragging on too long. I want this issue to be over. Whatever they decide, it must be decided soon as I am wasting my playing years," he said.

Asif said as far as he knew even if the IPL tribunal banned him, the ban period would start from the day the hearings began and he stopped playing.

He said he is keen to get back to playing international cricket and his personal ambition is returning to the national side and make a mark in the 2011 World Cup.

"In Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir [Images], Shoaib Akhtar [Images] and myself we have a very good pace attack and if we can play together in the next World Cup it would be fantastic for Pakistan cricket," he said.