So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC

[MundaPakistani]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC

An anti-climactic end to one of the most farcical events in the history of cricket. I expected them to be drug-tested and banned for 2 years once the test would inevitably show up as positive; but it's apparent that the PCB don't want to compromise the career of either player and are taking the easy way out. By claiming that these two can't participate in the tournament due to injury - they effectively avoid the drug test and during the intervening period - any trace of nandrolone will perish. Now they will be able to get another 4/5 years worth of cricket out of these two at the expense of a world cup.

In a nut-shell.

[Holysmoke]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC

[Ram]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC exactly.. just followin the sequence of events , its obvious that it was tailored so that both shoaib and asif miss the drugs test. How can it be that both are out of the country at the same time for "medical tests" ? when the rest of the squad is dope tested ??? and now when they are back , they are not fit enough so they wont be tested anyway ??? comon !!! I guess in a way its good for the pakistan team since they can focus on the job now.

[Chandan]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC Anyway, After PCB ended its Drama, ICC has started its own one. ICC hold out for evidence of injury to Pakistan pair Friday March 2, 2007 The Guardian The International Cricket Council is insisting on its right to see medical evidence of injuries to Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif before it will allow Pakistan to call up replacements for the World Cup. Shoaib and Asif were ruled out yesterday, Shoaib after apparently struggling with a knee injury and Asif with an elbow knock, and when the squad flew out to the Caribbean the two men taking their places, Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami, were left behind to await ICC clearance. Both Akhtar and Asif tested positive for nandrolone in dope tests last year. Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year in November, but the bans were controversially lifted on the grounds they did not take banned substances knowingly. The Pakistan Cricket Board has insisted that the two withdrawals are purely on the basis of fitness and have nothing to do with worries about being tested; the ICC said yesterday that there would be increased testing at the World Cup. The PCB had tested its squad before the World Cup and all were cleared, but Shoaib and Asif missed the tests because they were in London for treatment. The PSB denied media claims that they had been privately tested to see whether nandrolone remained in their bodies. "Their injuries are so serious that had we played them it would have jeopardised their careers," Dr Naseem Ashraf, the PCB chairman, said. Not everyone was convinced. The former Pakistan and Northamptonshire paceman, Sarfraz Nawaz, said: "The outside world is justified in doubting the fitness reason of their pull-out because, just two days before, the captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and [Pakistan coach Bob] Woolmer had said that both Shoaib and Asif have niggles and will recover in time. If you take that into account then it's confusing." --------------------------------------------------------------- Why ICC is trying to project itself as holier than thou now? When there was a time to take action, they kept quiet and showed that they were helpless! It is really a frustrating thing as how these bodies take the fans for a ride, everytime a controvertial situation comes up!

[Rajiv]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC ..but chandan, better late than never! Afterall, the game should be fair and square

[MundaPakistani]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC Chandan, Both ICC and WADA have taken the case to the Sports court what else could they have done? IIRC WADA didn't do anything when Greg Rudseki was tested positive for the same drug and later let off, oh and Greg's level was a good 6 or 7 ng higher than that of Shoiab and Asif.

[Chandan]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC

..but chandan, better late than never! After all, the game should be fair and square

Rajeev, Do you really believe that ICC has guts to anything? It is simply making noises now to show to the cricket world and fans that it is the controlling body, once it has come to know that it won't have to take hard decisions! And Faisal, You'll be quite surprised to know that ICC was extremely reluctant in supporting WADA for dragging Shoaib and asif into the CAS!!

[Rajiv]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC

..but chandan, better late than never! After all, the game should be fair and square

Rajeev, Do you really believe that ICC has guts to anything? It is simply making noises now to show to the cricket world and fans that it is the controlling body, once it has come to know that it won't have to take hard decisions! And Faisal, You'll be quite surprised to know that ICC was extremely reluctant in supporting WADA for dragging Shoaib and asif into the CAS!!

Yes, I do believe they are the supreme body and can call the shots . Frankly, in PCB's case, it really depends if they get India's support to clean their dirty laundry ICC did fire Hair, now they can't do favors all the time dear. This is sorta payback time and guess what..such accusations makes hair's case strong too

[Chandan]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC

After all, the game should be fair and square

Rajeev, Do you really believe that ICC has guts to anything? It is simply making noises now to show to the cricket world and fans that it is the controlling body, once it has come to know that it won't have to take hard decisions!

Yes, I do believe they are the supreme body and can call the shots . Frankly, in PCB's case, it really depends if they get India's support to clean their dirty laundry ICC did fire Hair, now they can't do favors all the time dear. This is sorta payback time and guess what..such accusations makes hair's case strong too

[Rajiv]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC Overall portrayal of being unfair ( and/or cheats ) - hiding evidence. Not directly, but don't tell me the judge etc don't read the news

[King]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC Pretty much on predictable lines. To be honest when they both were said to have missed the test it was pretty much conclusive they were going to be pulled out of the WC. Pakistan was in a tough situation considering these two played against the Saffies and they had no option other than stating the injury as the reason to pull them out of WC. Somehow the justice has been made and I am bloody sure some of the PCB administrators must be quite relieved too. Time to move on for Pakistan but am unsure why Sami was yet again brought in. :shrug:

[Chandan]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC Another confusion?

[King]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC Hmmm.... Another confusion??? Confused about what?

[Chandan]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC About Shoab and Asif's so called injuries!!!! :lmao:

The announcement came just hours after the International Cricket Council issued a statement on the doping issue which said the Shoaib and Asif dope fiasco in the Champions Trophy had been an embarrassment for the sport and teams would be subjected to target tests in the mega event. Sources told PTI that the ICC had taken the step of issuing a statement on the doping issue as it was fed up with the PCB prolonging the Shoaib and Asif issue. "It forced the PCB to play its cards," one source said. But Ashraf insisted that the duo -- Shoaib suffering from knee injury and Asif bothered by his elbow -- may take a long time to recover and were therefore pulled out of the team.

And,

"Apparently the resuls of the private tests were not conclusive so the decision to drop them. Even if the players were injured why didn't they take the dope tests in Pakistan like the other players," the source questioned.

And,

There is also some confusion on whether the PCB has got the written medical reports on the two bowlers from London as it said in a press release that it had received "verbal reports" from doctors that the two players require more time to become fit.

[King]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC When the heck does this saga end? I guess it's curtains for both the players from participating in the Holy Grail. I guess justice has prevailed and I would have been gutted to see these two turn up for WC after the fiasco.

[MundaPakistani]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC

Overall portrayal of being unfair ( and/or cheats ) - hiding evidence. Not directly, but don't tell me the judge etc don't read the news

What about his emails? What about this recent case where he wanted to accuse the PCB of racism? What about the fact that he accused of his bosses of lying? What about the fact that he refused to follow ICC's protocols? What about the fact the Pakistan were PROVEN innocent on the tampering issue? The guy just wants to be in the headlines and collecting material for "decision maker 2".

[DravidDaBest]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC I'm just amazed at the ignorance when people say that Asif and Shoaib took some supplements and that was the cause of the positive test. That argument can be reasonable one if ONE player is tested positive...but for that to happen to 2 players same time, that must be a miniscule probability (very close to zero)

[Anakin]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC

I'm just amazed at the ignorance when people say that Asif and Shoaib took some supplements and that was the cause of the positive test. That argument can be reasonable one if ONE player is tested positive...but for that to happen to 2 players same time, that must be a miniscule probability (very close to zero)

Logic was never a strong point for some people

[Vishwatma]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC dad once told me...drink milk son...don't take steroids...wonder why the others nvr understood that :wall:

[THX_1138]

Re: So Shoaib and Asif are finally out of the WC

Chandan, Both ICC and WADA have taken the case to the Sports court what else could they have done? IIRC WADA didn't do anything when Greg Rudseki was tested positive for the same drug and later let off, oh and Greg's level was a good 6 or 7 ng higher than that of Shoiab and Asif.

Sir you are mistaken. Rusedski and six other tennis players were taken to task by the WADA on the behalf of ATP for the elevated levels of anabolic steroirds present in their bloodstream. however, Rusedski was let off since a prior statute had been set when other tennis players who were similarly charged were pronounced not guilty on the basis that the steroids were present in adulterated drinks and nutrient packs distributed by the ATP during the course of the tournament. you see, during an ATP tournament, the players are all kept ingonito from the rest of the world. they are not permitted access to their coaches, press and thus, everything they need from equipment to nutrient packs are served by the ATP. as a result, it was the ATP to blame for the elevated levels of steroids. now the thing is, that rusedski might very well have been juicing, but the law functions in a manner of consistency. if a prior defendent has been charged with the same crime as you are, and he was punished to a certain sentence, you are almost certain to receive the same judgement. unfortunately, shoaib and asif are running circles around this. they are walking about with absolute impunity after having failed a test, a violation for which prior statute has been set: a two year to one year ban.