Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!
HOW THE NEWS WAS BROKEN
Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar had just finished his breakfast on Monday and had moved to a teammate’s table when Pakistan team manager Talat Ali broke the news that his dope test had tested positive.
It was clear from Shoaib’s demeanour at the restaurant of the Rajputana Maurya Sheraton that he had no inkling what was in store for him. The 31-year-old looked cheerful as he read the newspaper and finished his rolls, sausages and juice.
The freshly showered Shoaib ended his meal with tea and joked with Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralithran who was having breakfast with his teammates on another table.
Abdul Razzak entered the restaurant and Shoaib called him over to his table and the two continued with their breakfast.
After he finished, Shoaib walked over to another table to catch up with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal when a serious looking Ali walked in.
Ali took him away - to tell him that he and his pace partner Mohammed Asif had tested positive for Nandrolone, a banned anabolic steroid.
Taking hurried steps, the two walked out of the restaurant on to the beautifully manicured lawns of the hotel and disappeared inside one of the rooms