Related Links

November 02, 2006

Pakistani Speedsters Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have been banned from playing International and Domestic Cricket by the three-member doping tribunal appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar has got a ban of two years while Mohammad Asif has got a one-year ban.

Sadly Shoaib Akhtar who is already 31 years old might have his career finished following this ban. Mohammad Asif on the other hand is just 23 years old and he is expected to make a comeback once he completes the ban period. The only thing to be seen is if he can be the same bowler that he has been so far. Pakistan will be missing the services of these two spearheads for the upcoming World Cup in the Caribbean. Both the fast bowlers were tested positive for a banned substance called 'Nandrolone'. The doping tribunal consisted of Barrister Shahid Hameed, former Captain and Manager Intikhab Alam and dope test expert Dr. Waqar Ahmed. The ban effect will come into effect from October 15, the date on which the PCB had suspended both these players.

Shoaib Akhtar has got a bigger punishment compared to Mohammad Asif as the tribunal felt that Shoaib was fully aware that he was taking the banned substance while it felt that Asif had little knowledge about the banned substance.
 

Top of the Page