Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!
^ Thanks. Holding makes a lot of sense as usual in this article. Reminds me of Boyks remark in 1992 ' Wasim and Waqar would have bowled most sides out with an orange never mind a cricket ball' when the two W's were being accused of ball-tampering. You need talent, skill and ability first and foremost. It's like saying a batsman would score hundreds more often than ducks if their bats were half an inch wider.
I hope the PCB for once acts smart and absolves the two players of the alleged crime. They should blame it all on the injections given by their specialist (an anonymous doctor) saying the players had absolutely no idea that the injections could possibly contain a banned substance. Even if the players are guilty of some hanky panky, the PCB should not punish them publicly but give them a stern warning behind closed doors. I know it does n't sound right but that's what I would do if I were in charge to save our players and our country further embarrassment and humiliation. There is no need for us to act whiter than white and show greater transparency than others esp. as no other test-playing country has conducted drug tests on their players recently.
Even a nominal punishment of 3-4 months (effectively a period of rest before the WC) would mean that the players were guilty in some way and could invite further unnecessary intervention by WADA.