A split verdict goes in favour of Akhtar and Mohammad Asif; PCB sources say decision to clear the fast bowlers was pre-meditated.
A split verdict goes in favour of Akhtar and Mohammad Asif; PCB sources say decision to clear the fast bowlers was pre-meditated and influenced by patron-in-chief Musharraf’s demands.
LAHORE: The three-member anti-doping appellate tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board, appointed to review the ban appeals of fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, exonerated them on Tuesday. The verdict was split 2-1.
Sources in the PCB say that the head of the tribunal, ex-Governor Sindh Justice Fakharuddin Ebrahim, had made up his mind to clear the players in accordance with the desire of the PCB patron-in-chief President General Musharraf who had asked the PCB chairman Naseem Ashraf to ensure that the career of the two players does not come to an abrupt end.
One of the tribunal members, Hasib Ahsan, had publicly resented the ban against Shoaib and Asif even while the proceedings of the tribunal were still in progress.
The tribunal was unable to reach a consensus on the verdict as one of the members, Dr Danish Zaheer wanted both the banned players to undergo another drugs test. He was voted out.
While announcing the verdict on Tuesday morning, Ebrahim said both players have been cleared under a PCB law on exceptional circumstances. Neither of the two players was advised on taking vitamin supplements which may have led to them testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.
Therefore, he said, the tribunal holds that Akhtar and Asif will not be deemed to have committed a doping offence and the previous ban imposed by an anti-doping commission of the PCB is set aside as being contrary to the provision of laws.
“Mohammad Asif was only told to discontinue taking the supplements when he himself told the team physiotherapist Darryn Lifson about them in August 2006. Neither of the two players was even provided with any publication warning them against the use of supplements. It was the committee’s view that Akhtar and Asif have successfully established that they had an honest and reasonable belief that the supplements ingested by them did not contain any prohibited substances.”
The tribunal was set up on November 11 to review the appeals of Shoaib and Asif against their bans from all cricket for two and one years respectively. The bans were imposed on November 1 after the two bowlers were found guilty (in dope tests conducted internally by the PCB).
Sources said that Ebrahim had finalised the decision by November 20 when the verdict was to be originally announced. However, sensing the mood of the other tribunal members, Dr Danish Zaheer insisted that the verdict should be delayed and the under trial players be made to answer a fresh set of questions.
Despite opposition by the lawyers of the players on the grounds that Shoaib and Asif had already been made to fill out questionnaires twice, Ebrahim agreed to Danish’s demand.
Sources said that from day one, the PCB wanted the two players to be spared, knowing that the absence of these players would diminish Pakistan’s chances of success in the World Cup being played next year.
When asked if their sentences were to be reduced eventually, why the two players were treated so harshly by the inquiry commission, the sources said the PCB had no other option once the results of the doping tests had turned out to be positive.
Had the two players not been held accountable by the PCB, the ICC would have acted against them and treated them more harshly.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}