Shoaib, Asif test positive for dope, to return to Pakistan

Jaipur—Pakistani speedsters Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif, here for the Champions Trophy, have tested positive for an unnamed banned drug and have been asked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to return home immediately.
The news comes as a setback to Pakistan's Champions Trophy campaign as they are to play their first match, a Group B encounter against Sri Lanka, here Tuesday.
The two players are now out of the Champions Trophy, but they have the right to appeal. If they do, the B samples of their urine would be tested. If the B samples give the same results, they could be banned from all cricket for two years.
Sources in the Pakistani team confirmed that the two bowlers have indeed tested positive in precautionary tests done on 25 players towards the end of August and early September in Pakistan.
Top International Cricket Council (ICC) officials, including its CEO Malcolm Speed, are here and currently meeting over the issue.
Coach Bob Woolmer declined to comment and only said that the PCB would issue a statement during the day.
"I have been asked not to comment on the issue. PCB is supposed to issue a statement later in the day," Woolmer told IANS in the team hotel.
It remains to be seen if the ICC allows replacements following the withdrawal of the two key players.
This is the first time that the ICC is conducting random drug tests during the Champions Trophy.
Eight top Test playing nations are taking part in the month-long tournament whose main round began Sunday here with an India-England match. —Agencies