Akhtar, Asif being called back

[Neo]

No, cause it was Pakistani officials that called them back and they weren't sent home by the ICC. If a conspiracy or anything, it's an internal thing.

For all we know they were misbehaving (very common for Akhtar) and were punished by sending back home.

Asim,

I'm starting to believe that its an internal thing indeed.
Something smells fishy...
Woolmer gave an statement today:

Tuesday October 17, 12:06 PM
Pakistan pair's steroids may not be deliberate: coach
By 7News
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer believes that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif's positive drug tests could be a case of human error, rather than cheating.
The pair was sent home from the Champions Trophy after testing positive to the banned substance Nandrolone last month.

"I very much doubt that either player took this substance to enhance their performance," Woolmer said.

"But they have been suffering from injuries."

He suggested the steroid could have been in medication the players took to relieve their injuries.

If found guilty, the pair could face two-year bans.

International Cricket Council boss Malcolm Speed said the game would stand firm and enforce its zero tolerance policy towards banned drug use.

"Cricket is regarded as a low-risk sport in respect to drugs and doping, but that's not to say we don't take it seriously," Mr Speed said.

The outcome of tests on the players' B samples is expected later today.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/061017/23/10xyf.html

 

[Zeeshan S.]

I have never seen PCB going against Pakistani players like that before. There is something fishy! I think some cricket team is behind this to divide and make our team fall.

Pakistan Cricket Board names ex-captain, lawyer to probe two bowlers for doping
The Associated Press

Published: October 19, 2006

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan A former Pakistan cricket captain and a prominent lawyer have been named to a three-member tribunal to probe two Pakistani bowlers who failed a doping test during the Champions Trophy in India, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said Thursday.

Fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif returned home Monday after they were pulled out of the ongoing tournament in India for testing positive for the banned steroid Nandrolone.

Intikhab Alam, a former Pakistan captain, who has also been the Pakistani team's manager, and Shahid Hamid, a prominent Supreme Court lawyer, will be on the tribunal to "ascertain facts" surrounding the incident, PCB spokesman Amir Bilal said.

A third member of the inquiry team, who is going to be someone with "in-depth knowledge of doping and related matters," has yet to be named, Bilal said.

The tribunal will "look into the details of this happening and find out actual facts, conduct an inquiry and ascertain facts...and determine whether they are guilty," Bilal told The Associated Press.

The tribunal will be held at the PCB headquarters in the eastern city of Lahore and proceedings will begin when the third panel member is appointed, Bilal said, without specifying a date.

Akhtar and Asif "will definitely appear" before the tribunal, he said.

The two players have denied using the banned substance deliberately.

They face a two-year ban but could be given a lesser punishment if they're found to have used Nandrolone unintentionally, a PCB official has said earlier.

Akhtar, 31, dubbed the "Rawalpindi Express," is one of cricket's fastest bowlers and has taken 165 wickets in 42 test matches and 208 wickets at an average of 23.33 in 133 limited-overs internationals.

Asif, 23, has 30 wickets in six test matches at an average of 21.16 and 19 wickets in 17 one-day internationals.

Alam was manager of the Pakistani team that won the World Cup in 1992 while Hamid was a lawyer for former test cricketer, Salim Malik, who was banned for life in 2000 after a judicial inquiry found him guilty of match fixing.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan A former Pakistan cricket captain and a prominent lawyer have been named to a three-member tribunal to probe two Pakistani bowlers who failed a doping test during the Champions Trophy in India, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said Thursday.

Fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif returned home Monday after they were pulled out of the ongoing tournament in India for testing positive for the banned steroid Nandrolone.

Intikhab Alam, a former Pakistan captain, who has also been the Pakistani team's manager, and Shahid Hamid, a prominent Supreme Court lawyer, will be on the tribunal to "ascertain facts" surrounding the incident, PCB spokesman Amir Bilal said.

A third member of the inquiry team, who is going to be someone with "in-depth knowledge of doping and related matters," has yet to be named, Bilal said.

The tribunal will "look into the details of this happening and find out actual facts, conduct an inquiry and ascertain facts...and determine whether they are guilty," Bilal told The Associated Press.

The tribunal will be held at the PCB headquarters in the eastern city of Lahore and proceedings will begin when the third panel member is appointed, Bilal said, without specifying a date.

Akhtar and Asif "will definitely appear" before the tribunal, he said.

The two players have denied using the banned substance deliberately.

They face a two-year ban but could be given a lesser punishment if they're found to have used Nandrolone unintentionally, a PCB official has said earlier.

Akhtar, 31, dubbed the "Rawalpindi Express," is one of cricket's fastest bowlers and has taken 165 wickets in 42 test matches and 208 wickets at an average of 23.33 in 133 limited-overs internationals.

Asif, 23, has 30 wickets in six test matches at an average of 21.16 and 19 wickets in 17 one-day internationals.

Alam was manager of the Pakistani team that won the World Cup in 1992 while Hamid was a lawyer for former test cricketer, Salim Malik, who was banned for life in 2000 after a judicial inquiry found him guilty of match fixing.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/19/asia/AS_SPT_CRK_Pakistan_Doping_Tribunal.php