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Shoaib and Asif face anxious wait Shoaib and Asif face anxious wait
(about 4 hours later)
A tribunal for Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who have tested positive for nandrolone, is unlikely to take place until next week. A hearing for Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who have tested positive for nandrolone, is unlikely to take place until next week.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is set to formulate a three-man independent tribunal on Friday but the hearing itself will not start then. Former captain Intikahb Alam, lawyer Shahid Hamid and an as yet to be named doctor will form a three-man tribunal to handle the case.
Shoaib and Asif are facing an anxious wait to find out their fate and could be banned for two years. Shoaib and Asif could face a ban of up to two years and are facing an anxious wait to learn their fate.
However, it could drag on further if they dispute the samples' findings.However, it could drag on further if they dispute the samples' findings.
"We know these two samples have been found to be positive, there could be various reasons for that and we want to find out what has happened," said PCB director of cricket operations Salim Altaf."We know these two samples have been found to be positive, there could be various reasons for that and we want to find out what has happened," said PCB director of cricket operations Salim Altaf.
"It is up to the tribunal to find that out and make a judgment; it is an independent tribunal and the PCB will adopt whatever that tribunal sees fit.""It is up to the tribunal to find that out and make a judgment; it is an independent tribunal and the PCB will adopt whatever that tribunal sees fit."
Shoaib and Asif were sent home from the ICC Champions Trophy after the positive tests, which were carried out three weeks ago, were confirmed.Shoaib and Asif were sent home from the ICC Champions Trophy after the positive tests, which were carried out three weeks ago, were confirmed.
Pakistan are one of five Test nations who are signed up to the World Anti-Doping Agency protocol.Pakistan are one of five Test nations who are signed up to the World Anti-Doping Agency protocol.
Because the tests were carried out before the ICC Champions Trophy, it is the PCB which will decide what punishment to hand down and not the ICC.Because the tests were carried out before the ICC Champions Trophy, it is the PCB which will decide what punishment to hand down and not the ICC.
The PCB does not have its own sanctions but could follow the ICC's regulations, which would mean a ban of two years for the bowlers.The PCB does not have its own sanctions but could follow the ICC's regulations, which would mean a ban of two years for the bowlers.
The tribunal will comprise of a former Test cricketer, a lawyer and a sports doctor.The tribunal will comprise of a former Test cricketer, a lawyer and a sports doctor.
"This has never happened to us before and there are grey areas for all of us," added Altaf."This has never happened to us before and there are grey areas for all of us," added Altaf.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who is missing the ICC Champions Trophy because he is serving a four-game ban, said it was right the players were withdrawn.Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who is missing the ICC Champions Trophy because he is serving a four-game ban, said it was right the players were withdrawn.
"The PCB took the right decision in calling them back," said Inzamam."The PCB took the right decision in calling them back," said Inzamam.
"I am sure they didn't take any banned substances intentionally."I am sure they didn't take any banned substances intentionally.
"But if they had tested positive in the ICC tournament, it wouldhave been a very difficult situation for everyone." "But if they had tested positive in the ICC tournament, it would have been a very difficult situation for everyone."