Table of Contents
Former Indian Home Ministry official RVS Mani has made sensational claims about alleged drug trafficking involving former Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.
Mani, who served as an undersecretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs' Internal Security Division from 2006 to 2010, claimed that Pakistan national cricket teams and other unofficial delegations were allegedly involved in bringing drugs into India during their visits.
Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif named in alleged drug incident
RVS Mani claimed that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were once sent back by the Pakistani High Commission after allegedly admitting they were carrying drugs for what was described as personal consumption. He further claimed that the incident was part of a much larger operation.
Mani further shared that during his time at the Home Ministry, Pakistan cricket teams visiting India were used to traffic drugs into the country. He claimed that intelligence agencies reported that this involved wider networks operating through different Pakistani delegations. Amid this, Shaheen Afridi is set for LPL stint during Pakistan's Test season.
RVS Mani told the senior journalist Smita Prakash on ANI podcast, "There was a reported case involving former Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who were allegedly sent back by the Pakistani High Commission after admitting they were carrying drugs, claiming it was for personal consumption. In my view, that was only a cover, and Pakistani cricket teams and other delegations visiting India were involved in drug trafficking.”
RVS Mani makes stunning claims on Bob Woolmer's mysterious death
The former official also claimed that former Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer's mysterious death in 2007 is linked to the drug trafficking incident involving Shahid Afridi, Ramiz Raja, Shoaib Akhtar, and Mohammad Asif, among others. However, the Indian government had knowledge of the same but couldn’t do anything because of not have substantial proof.
He continued, “I believe this was not an isolated incident. Months later, Pakistan's English coach, Bob Woolmer, who resisted this drug trafficking by the Pakistanis, was killed under suspicious circumstances. All these incidents should have to be joined.”
Former official raises questions over Pakistan Dossiers
Mani claimed that intelligence reports during his tenure linked the illegal drug trade to terror funding and claimed security agencies repeatedly flagged concerns about visiting Pakistani delegations. He revealed that actions were not taken immediately at that time despite repeated warnings.
The former Home Ministry official shared, “During my tenure, intelligence assessments suggested that nearly 30% of the funding for terror attacks in India came through the drug trade. We believed Pakistan had an official policy of pushing drugs into India, and higher opium production in Jalalabad often raised concerns about an increase in terror activities.
Mani also revealed that he was also part of the team that prepared detailed dossiers on Pakistan. Later, those dossiers were replaced by the CBI, and factual mistakes weakened India's position by affecting the credibility of the evidence.
🚨 BIG REVELATION: Pakistani cricketers, delegation members & players like Shoaib Akhtar & Mohammad Asif used to traffic drugs into India on every tour.
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) July 14, 2026
In one reported case, they panicked and self-confessed. Their coach Bob Woolmer, who called out the trafficking, DIED under… pic.twitter.com/9NAnR4dIkj
However, the current Indian government has made it clear that the national teams will play Pakistan only in the multi-nation events, banning the bilateral cricketing ties since 2012-13.
