Pakistan recall Asif for Champions Trophy

Pakistan recalled pace bowler Mohammad Asif in a 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy in South Africa next month.

Asif completes his 12-month ban for a doping offence on September 22, one day before Pakistan play their opening game. Asif replaces allrounder Abdul Razzaq in the only change from the one-day squad that recently toured Sri Lanka.

Asif has not played any cricket since July last year and was banned last September by the Pakistan Cricket Board after testing positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone while playing for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.

"He has served his time for the mistakes he made and we feel he can be a big asset for the team in such a big tournament," chief selector Iqbal Qasim told Reuters on Friday.

Squad: Younus Khan (Capt), Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Muhammad Yousuf, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Rana Naved, Kamran Akmal, Rao Iftkhar, Mohammad Asif, Muhammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul.