Pace pair beat drug blitz

[DesiChap]

Pace pair beat drug blitz By Robert Craddock March 02, 2007 SHOAIB Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were withdrawn from the World Cup just hours after officials announced a drug blitz aimed at catching them. The two accused drug cheats were withdrawn from the Pakistan side early yesterday with chief selector Wasim Bari claiming their injuries (Akhtar kneee, Asif elbow) would sideline them for another fortnight. That excuse seemed questionable given a fortnight's break meant they would only miss just one cup match and sources close to the team believe the fear of career-ending repeat drug offences had just as much to do with the decision. The two fast bowlers will be replaced by paceman Mohammad Sami and allrounder Yasir Arafat. Pakistan officials were earlier in the day chastened by statements from International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed that the failure of Pakistan to take action against the duo after positive tests to nandrolone had prompted the ICC to launch a series of random tests at the cup. It is understood the duo would have been targeted by cup drug-testers as soon as they landed in the Caribbean and fear of a major drugs drama weighed heavily on the minds of Pakistan officials. The bowlers returned to Lahore yesterday after spending the last week in London where, it has been reported in Pakistan newspapers, they underwent private tests to see whether their levels of nandrolone were still illegally high. Speed confirmed in addition to the routine testing of four players (two from each team) in 17 of the tournament's 51 matches there will be recently approved random tests designed to catch players under suspicion. "Both Shoaib and Asif have played for Pakistan over the past few months despite testing positive for prohibited substances last year," Speed said. "That is a fact neither player has disputed and it is also a fact that has caused the game a high level of embarrassment as a result. "We want to make absolutely sure that all players who take part in the World Cup do so on the basis that they are free from banned substances." All World Cup players have been issued with a DVD spelling out the paramenters of drug use. Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said the injuries to the pair was a huge blow for the team. "But their injuries would have taken more time and we couldn't wait any more," he said. "We now know where we stand. "It is true that our chances have been hit badly by the absence of these two key bowlers but we will have to show the kind of spirit and team unity which can win us a big event like the World Cup."

[Gaurav]

Re: Pace pair beat drug blitz Glad that we emptied the trash bin in 47 :lmao: Man it must be a bummer being a Pakistani. In every field they seem to make Pakistan proud :lmao: Kya paduse hain! Free entertainment 24/7.