Back home after 19 days of detention in Dubai, Pakistan pace spearhead Mohammad Asif stuck to his guns, insisting that he was not caught with any contraband drugs by the authorities.
The pacer claimed he was innocent which is why he was eventually released.
"I never took any drugs or banned substances. I have never used drugs in my life and I challenge anyone to prove I do drugs. If I had taken any drugs I would have tested positive during laboratory tests in Dubai and also when I gave a random test during the Indian Premier League," he said in Lahore after returning from Dubai via Karachi.
He also rubbished reports that drug were recovered from his possession in Dubai.
"It was no drug just a substance given to me by a local Hakeem."
Asif, who is due to meet Pakistan cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf later on Friday, thanked the PCB chairman for securing his release.
"They [the authorities in Dubai] kept me well but it was detention after all. I am thankful to the PCB chairman and officials that they didn't abandon me and kept on supporting me and fighting my case," the pacer said.
Meanwhile, Ashraf told reporters in Lahore that after meeting Asif he would appoint a three member fact finding committee to look into the case documents which would be released by Dubai authorities.
"We will have our own inquiry and first determine what really happened. If he is guilty of any offence he will face severe penalties. But let us get to the facts," Ashraf said.
He said an internal inquiry would be held but he is happy to see Asif back in Pakistan.
Asif, meanwhile, also denied misbehaving with airport authorities prior to his detention.
"All such reports are fabricated and I will be taking up this issue with the people who gave this story. I never even spoke to any journalist during my detention," he said after reaching Lahore from Dubai via Karachi.
Asif said two persons had approached him in Dubai posing as security men and said they wanted details of why he was being detained.
"But I never told them I was drunk or misbehaved, yet next day this story was carried in sections of the media."
