Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar are likely to appeal against the bans handed to them by the Pakistan board-appointed drug tribunal.
Asif confirmed to Cricinfo that he will appeal against the decision to ban him for a year and said that he couldn’t explain the presence of nandrolone in his urine sample. “I will appeal against this. I don’t know how this has happened. I wasn’t even aware of the dope test and I was the one who gave it first.”
The tribunal’s verdict revealed that Asif had been using a protein supplement, Promax-50, but stopped using it as soon as he was told to do so by Darren Lifsun, the team physiotherapist. It is thought possible that this was the cause of the positive sample. “Obviously I am very disappointed about what has happened. I had no idea.”
The case of Asif’s ignorance may be strengthened in light of the tribunal’s finding that the board has not played a satisfactory role in ensuring that its players are suitably cautioned and advised about such issues.
Shoaib, facing a two-year ban, has not made any official statement as of now but sources close to him have confirmed that he will also appeal. One source believes a strong enough case exists to lighten the ban.
Tauseef Razzaq, Shoaib’s doctor, also said that Shoaib was devastated by the decision and would definitely appeal against the ban. “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,” Razzaq told AFP, referring to Shoaib’s claim last month that he had not knowingly taken any performance-enhancing drugs.
The PCB has stated that a new tribunal will be set up in case the players appeal, as seems likely now.
asif's ban should be lifted,he is not educated enough to know what was being given to him..akhtar should stay banned for 1 year.i think asif took that thing based on akhtar's advice.
yeah lets ban shoaib for life. He probably was the one who told inzi to forfeit the Oval game. And it was not Warne's mom who gave him the banned diuretic, it was probably Shoaib as well.
I hope they go for an apeal and Asif's ban should be lifted, Shoaib's ban should be reduced to 6 month or 1 year. Shoaib should have not visited that hakeem khatra jaan...
I don't know why we are so upset about these bans. They did the crime, let them do the time. It seems to me we are more concerned about losing the world cup without these two than doing the right thing. I am also upset at what has happened but lets not get carried away. The bans should stay and serve as a warning to others. To reverse them now or reduce them will make us a laughing stock once more. Pakistan cricket is much bigger than Asif and Shoaib.
I disagree ehsan bhai, I can say the same thing about you that you are more concerned about PCB image than justice for these two players. I mean if they want to restore Pakistan's image, hold a seminar why ban your two most talented bowlers like that. It is not like ICC and PCB are the models of Sports, nobody cares in international sports about their decision. The fact of the matter is these punishments are harsh and career ending. In many Pro sports when players are banned for substances like these there is a warning session of three offences. Asif and Akhtar are not given once. In Pro sports, if you are accused once, they ban you 5-10 games, after that half year to life time ban.
I am not concerned about PCB's image at all, I am however concerned that we do the right thing. Tell me one thing, did they or didn't they take the banned substance?
Yes, do the right thing but do not end a career like that. In Pro Sports, whatever it may be, from soccer to MLB, NBA, NFL and even Olympics, we have players who are involved in questionable things but their careers do not end like that. They have a chance of Redemption, can we say the same about Asif and Akhtar? They just ended their career like that. It makes no sense when we have one the most talented bowlers in the world work so hard and one mistake, there goes your career. Where is the justice in this? Where is the doing the right thing in this?
Is it PCB's responsibility that Shoaib opted for PED putting his career in jeopardy? Is it PCB's fault that Shoaib took nandrolene towards end of his career and got caught? Asif's career is no where near 'finished'.
People are not upset about the bans but about the harshness. When someone does not deserve a 2 year ban and still is getting it, then the fans have every right to get upset.
Yes, it is also his fault that these substance are avaiable, there is violence in the world that women are all there want him and not others.
If someone makes are mistake, you can not end his career like that. If that was the case, we will never have players like Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant and others who have made plenty of mistakes in their lives. Pick a player and read through his life and statistics, you will see controversy. Everyone deserves a chance of Redemption, and Asif and Akhtar are not given any.
Two year ban is stupid and it makes not point, you can not take away ban substances and other stuff from sports. Although you can make an effort in systematically penalizing players in basis of three offences and such so that they are given chances to Redeem themselves.
Do not think Asif career is not over, age is nothing. A lot can happen in a year, he is banned from ODI, Test and Domestic. Where will he get his training from? When he emerged onto the International stage, he was playing side matches. I do not think he can do that right now, so can not maintain his form.
When the hearing was taking place, Asif and Akhtar did practice in Lahore Stadium, just goes to show how regular one need to be to remain in top competitive form. I doubt Asif will be able to do that after an year.
they need Asif man...He is an excellent bowler...otherwise pakistani team is already down the drain from the batting side,,,,Shoaib...he is arrogrant....i heard he didnot even listen to his ban...he just walked of the court ..or whatever was going onnnn.....
^ So the message we will than send to our players is that go on take banned substance, it is fine we will only ban you for one series, don't do it after you are caught the first time.