KARACHI: Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif's 'B' sample has tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone, leaving him facing a two-year ban, his lawyer said yesterday.

The 25-year-old tested positive during the Indian Premier League competition held between April and June, and the Pakistan Cricket Board suspended him in July on the basis of his first sample.

"We have just completed the test on Asif's B sample and it has come back positive," his lawyer Shahid Karim said.

"But I can tell you that the quantity of nandrolone has varied, which we can contest."

Asif tested positive for nandrolone in 2006 along with fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar.

He was banned for one year and Akhtar for two, but the bans were overturned on appeal.

Asif also faces a possible ban or fine from the PCB after he was detained in Dubai, while returning from the IPL, on charges of possessing an illegal drug. He was held for 19 days before police deported him.

Meanwhile, Asif's fellow paceman Akhtar has been told he must pay an outstanding fine of seven million Pakistan rupees ($105,780) to the PCB if he wants to play in next month's Champions Trophy. "He has to pay the fine because the court has suspended Akhtar's 18-month ban but not the financial penalty," PCB lawyer Tafazzul Rizvi said.

Akhtar was fined and handed a five-year ban in April by a PCB tribunal for a disciplinary breach after he criticised Pakistan's selectors.

The bowler challenged the decision and the PCB's appeals tribunal, which reduced the ban from five years to 18 months and also imposed a financial penalty. Akhtar subsequently filed an appeal with a Lahore High Court, which suspended the ban on July 4.

"It's been more than a month since the court has suspended the ban, but Akhtar has not yet paid the fine," Rizvi said.

"If he wants to play in the Champions Trophy, he has to clear the fine before the event starts on September 12."

The 33-year-old "Rawalpindi Express" has not played international cricket since a Test last December against India.

He has been at the centre of controversies for the past two years. Last year, the PCB fined him 3.4 million Pakistani rupees, ordered him to undergo psychiatric counselling and imposed a 13-match international ban for hitting Asif with a bat before the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.

In 46 Tests, Akhtar has taken 178 wickets at an average of 25.69 and 219 wickets at 23.2 in 138 limited-overs internationals.

■ After a rain-aborted workout against Scotland on Monday at least gave a resurgent Andrew Flintoff the chance to impress, England face South Africa in a Twenty20 international on Wednesday.

The rain ensured England could only enjoy a little fielding practice as, aided by three wickets from Flintoff, they restricted the Scots to 9-156 in Edinburgh before the heavens opened.

AP, AFP