Shoaib, Asif to challenge ban

LAHORE—Fast bowler Shoaib Akhter will face a tough test to stage a comeback to international cricket for Pakistan should there be no relaxation of a two-year ban imposed on him, former Test cricketers said on Thursday.
The inquiry tribunal of Pakistan Cricket Board, headed by Shahid Hamid, Wednesday banned “Rawalpindi Express” Shoaib Akhter for two years and his fast-bowling teammate Muhammad Asif for one year for taking banned performance-enhancing drug “Nandrolone”. “Given the long period of ban, it will be difficult for Shoaib to make a comeback after two years at the ripe old age of 34”, said former fast bowler Jalaluddin.
Jalal, whose career highlight was a hat-trick for Pakistan, advised both Shoaib Akhter and Muhammad Asif to file an appeal against the ban which he thought was rather harsh.
He also wondered why two different lengths of ban had been imposed when the offence was purported to be the same.
Former Indian wicketkeeper SMH Kirmani said Shoaib’s career would be in doldrums should there be no change in the length of ban on the bowler. He also agreed that it was an harsh penalty for the two bowlers who may have followed the advise of some doctors. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram also echoed similar views. Meanwhile, there are three options for the two bowlers in filing an appeal. They can either appeal to the same tribunal, they can request for constituting a different panel or thirdly they can go to arbitration tribunal of International Olympic Committee in Switzerland.Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Muhammad Asif will challenge the drug ban announced by an anti-doping tribunal of Pakistan Cricket Board.
The tribunal handed one-year ban to Muhamad Asif despite his lack of knowledge about use of prohibited drugs and not having command over English language. Asif would likely to appeal against the ban and his friends have started consultations with lawyers in this connection and the announcement to challenge the anti-doping tribunal decision would be made within 24 hours. It is being stated that Muhammad Asif may get the relief, as the ban period could possibly be reduced to few weeks or fine. Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhter who was failed to present the proof of his innocence has also decided to challenge the ban.
“Akhtar is devastated by the decision and he is definitely going to appeal against the ban,” the fast bowler’s personal doctor and close friend Tauseef Razzaq told. A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal banned Akhtar, 31, for two years and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif, 23, for one year on Wednesday after they tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.
Razzaq said the bowler was consulting his lawyer about appealing to the high court against the ban as he felt the decision was unjust and career-threatening.”
Razzaq said he and other medical counsel tried their best to convince the tribunal that Akhtar was innocent. “There are a number of examples where athletes were given the benefit of the doubt for using substances unknowingly and there are studies by renowned universities of the world on whose basis Akhtar should have been cleared,” he said.
Akhtar said last month that he had never “knowingly” taken performance-enhancing drugs. He and Asif both waived their right to have their “B samples” tested before the tribunal handed down its verdict.—Agencies