Pakistani paceman Mohammad Asif will not be able to play in the United Arab Emirates as its authorities have refused to revoke a travel ban on him, an official said Sunday.

The 27-year-old Asif was deported from the United Arab Emirates after being detained at Dubai airport last June when a small quantity of opium was found in his possession.

The fast bowler was detained for 19 days before the authorities deported him, saying the quantity of the banned drug was insignificant to make a court case.

Asif was on his way from India after featuring in the first edition of the Indian Premier League, where he tested positive for a banned drug. That earned him a one-year ban from all cricket, which ended in September last year.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Wasim Bari confirmed a request was made to clear Asif.

Pakistan will be playing England in two Twenty20 matches later this month and some other series are also lined up, "so we made a request with the UAE authorities but they turned it down as it's not possible under their laws," Bari told AFP.