Asif chooses to end IPL contract

Asif's Pakistan career began in 2005 but contains only 11 Tests and 31 ODIs

Pakistan seam bowler Mohammad Asif has had a request to be released from his Indian Premier League contract granted by his club, the Delhi Daredevils.

The controversial 26-year-old, who was embroiled in two drug controversies in 2008, played in the inaugural IPL event and had two years left on his contract.

Asif has been suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board until an IPL hearing takes place in Mumbai on Saturday.

"My only purpose and wish is to play for Pakistan again," he said.

"For that I need to disengage from any other cricket engagements and work toward this," he said.

"It has not been easy requesting this as I still have a contract valid for another two seasons with lucrative financial benefits.

"Currently I'm under tremendous pressure at all ends and need to regain my focus on resolving matters."

Asif was banned for a year in 2006 after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone, but later had that rescinded.

He was then sidelined by a series of injury problems before taking part in the inaugural IPL competition.

But Asif tested positive for nandrolone at an in-competition drug test last May and his second sample, analysed under World Anti-Doping Agency conditions, was also positive, prompting an automatic ban.

The following month he was detained at Dubai Airport after opium was found in his wallet as he travelled home to Pakistan from India.

The Dubai authorities, however, decided not to prosecute him.

Asif has played 11 Tests and 31 one-day internationals but has not played for Pakistan for nine months.