Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

Shoaib and Asif plead innocence](http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20598070-5001505,00.html)

PAKISTANI pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif pleaded innocent to charges of knowingly using a banned substance when they met Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials today.

Saleem Altaf, the board’s director of cricket operations, told Reuters he had met both players, who were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India yesterday after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. “They have said they don’t ever recall taking this substance knowingly,” Altaf said. “They have indicated they will press for another test when they appear before the drugs tribunal which will hear their case.”

The players face a ban of one to two years under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that as Pakistan conducted the tests internally it should decide on their punishments.
Shoaib was accompanied to the meeting by his personal trainer and doctor, Tauseef Razzaq, who has said that the fast bowler could have taken nandrolone inadvertently while being treated with herbal medicine.

“After undergoing surgery in Australia earlier and subsequent treatment for the stress fracture, Shoaib has been seeing a hakim (doctor) in Pakistan. It is a possibility that nandrolone drug was mixed in herbal medicines that he has been taking,” he said.

Altaf said the PCB would constitute the drugs tribunal by Friday. “We want to settle this matter as quickly as possible but in a fair manner.”

Until the tribunal reached a decision the players remained suspended, he said.
"Obviously if they are found guilty their central contracts will be cancelled," he added.

Sources in the board told Reuters that Shoaib and Asif had meet Altaf separately for more than an hour and both looked worried.

Shoaib, 31, is one of the fastest bowlers in history. He has taken 165 test wickets and more than 200 in one-dayers since his international debut in 1997.

He has been reported for a suspect bowling action three times and dogged by fitness problems for almost a decade.

Pakistan conducted the tests before the Champions Trophy, in which the ICC and WADA are carrying out random tests on two players from each of the 10 teams.

The ICC has allowed Pakistan to call up all rounder Yasir Arafat and spinner Abdul Rehman as replacements.

Pakistan won their opening match of the tournament on Tuesday against Sri Lanka.

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

i still don't understand why this is a public issue. is it not in the board's interest to cover it up? i'm not saying that concealing this would be the right thing to do, just something i assumed would be done out of common sense.

if PCB has any sense, they will ensure that this tribunal declares a verdict of innocence.

maybe the answer to this question is obvious or discussed in the many articles posted, but i haven't read them. the only thing i can think of is that ICC either already took samples of urine that will have turned up positive in the near future, and PCB is preemptively doing damage control and retaining control of the situation without ICC involvement.

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

^^ ICC was suppose to randomly pick two players from every team after games in champions trophy for drug tests. If Shoaib or Asif would have tested possitive at that time they would have been facing a ban of two years. Now the matter lies in PCB's own hands, they have caught the two players so ICC cant decide what punishment to hand out to them.

I think they will probably find them innocent and tell everyone that they took some pills during their treatment that made the tests come the way it did. The punishment for studitidy would be considered champions trophy or maybe they'll make 'em sit out of the Windies series as well and then things would be back to normal.

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

Yah Nikhil, Y would PCB tell the public and ICC, They shud of just said they r suspending them due to disciplinary things rather than contributing to the whole Pakistani r cheaters controversey. Maybe the new management has changed their tune, and don't want to do shady things. But I do think they will suspend both for at least till the World Cup if not for a year or more.

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

Pakistan doping tribunal to start Saturday LAHORE, Pakistan, Oct 20 (AFP) - Suspended Pakistan bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif may attend a doping tribunal on Saturday after testing positive for steroids. “The preliminary hearing of the tribunal will be held on Saturday and there is a possibility that Akhtar and Asif will appear before them,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) operations director Salim Altaf told AFP. He also said that doping expert Waqar Ahmed, the medical director of the Pakistan Sports Board, had been appointed as the third and final member of the panel. Barrister Shahid Hamid will chair the tribunal. Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam is the other member. (Posted @ 17:44 PST)
From www.dawn.com](http://www.dawn.com)

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

Pakistan doping tribunal to start Saturday
LAHORE, Pakistan, Oct 20 (AFP) - Suspended Pakistan bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif may attend a doping tribunal on Saturday after testing positive for steroids. “The preliminary hearing of the tribunal will be held on Saturday and there is a possibility that Akhtar and Asif will appear before them,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) operations director Salim Altaf told AFP. He also said that doping expert Waqar Ahmed, the medical director of the Pakistan Sports Board, had been appointed as the third and final member of the panel. Barrister Shahid Hamid will chair the tribunal. Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam is the other member. (Posted @ 17:44 PST)

From www.dawn.com](http://www.dawn.com)

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

^^ here goes nothing...
lets see if PCB can pull this one straight...

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

What's theres to pull? Asif and Akhtar are innocent 100%, PCB messed it up. It is another moment for them to look like bunch of fools.

Cafe chaand raaat plan!
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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

Yeah, let's put this on the Hakim's medicine. Shoaib's legs are all 'natural'

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

that makes sense, however what need was there for the PCB to announce the nature of the recall of shoaib/asif? wouldn’t it have made sense to silently recall them for any other reason, or even an unstated reason? surely that would be better than bringing shame and scrutiny like they have done by openly declaring it was an issue of drug tests and steroids.

again, if the PCB allows the tribunal to confirm their guilt it will make no sense. whether the two are innocent or guilty doesn’t matter, the PCB should ensure that there is declaration of innocence accompanied by a well-crafted reasoning and explanation.

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

This forum is going overboard with issues that are ‘routine’ and part of the big picture where players get hurt and in order to get back to full fittness they have to rely 100% on Specilaist’s advice for any medication injectable or oral and it is understood that in some cases its in players interest to shy away from ‘other’ medication with side affects.

Other than that all those ^^ cut & paste crap above is disguised as Pakistan Bashing. This topic will remain die-hard because this provides an oppourtunity for some idiots including journalists to keep it on low but steady fire.
:what:

Mike Holding relays some good sense and that should have been accepted as reasonable.

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

haan..mwP...thats wht i said...lets see if PCB can pull it off ...they need to correct the sit. by acting properly...

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

Shoaib and Asif likely to appear before doping tribunal today

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\10\21\story_21-10-2006_pg2_3](http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\10\21\story_21-10-2006_pg2_3)

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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

Shoaib and Asif appear before tribunal

Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif attended the preliminary hearing of the tribunal investigating the doping case at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headquarters in Lahore today. Both players - suspended from the Champions Trophy after testing positive for nandrolone, a banned steroid - recorded their statements separately. They were asked to submit their written statements for the next hearing, scheduled for October 26, after a break in proceedings for Eid.
“The hearing lasted around four hours as we had to do some initial work and then heard Akhtar and Asif,” Shahid Hamid, the chairman of the tribunal, told reporters. “We have given them reports of their tests and have asked them to submit their written statements in the next hearing.” The tribunal consists of Hamid and Intikhab Alam while Waqar Ahmed, the third member and medical expert, was unable to attend the hearing.
The tribunal is expected to return its findings in two weeks, after which the PCB will decide on a final course of action. Both players are liable to face bans of anywhere between one and two years. Hamid said that the players were briefed about the procedures and added that they had the option of bringing their lawyers in the next hearing.
“I cannot predict any time frame but would try to reach the conclusion as early as possible. We will give fair chance to both the players and then submit our report to the PCB. Both Akhtar and Asif have been told about the procedure of the doping matters.”
The PCB also stated that both players will have the opportunity to get their B samples tested after the tribunal hearings. The B sample is still with the laboratories and will be used for testing only if the players request for it.

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A VIEW FROM MIDWICKET: Innocent victims?
By MU Haq

The most recent scandal to plunge Pakistan cricket to the depths is the shocking news of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif testing positive for anabolic substance nandrolone in tests conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Without pausing to think, at least two former Pakistan captains have fired salvos at the PCB, presumably at what is now popularly referred to as the “previous set up”, for allowing it to happen. The response from coach Woolmer is that there is no question of either the PCB medicos or the coaching staff prescribing any medicines, compounds and liquids containing banned substances. It is quite possible that the players’ personal physicians and / or hakims may have done so.

Both fast bowlers are claiming their innocence through public statements and in consequence the PCB’s director of cricket operations had warned that it would be to their advantage to plead their cases before the PCB appointed tribunal, which will commence hearings from today (Saturday, 21st) and not after the Eid holidays as contemplated earlier, instead of causing possible damage to their cases by speaking publically. Shoaib Akhtar had earlier stated that President Musharraf had asked him to keep his mouth shut, obviously to no avail!

The question is did the two unknowingly take the drug since it seems absurd that a player should risk taking nandrolone even though it could speed their recovery from injury? Both Shoaib and Asif have recently returned to action after spending most of the summer injured. Athletes who have been caught have often cited the use of creatine and the consumption of protein shakes as reason for positive tests.

Experts say nandrolone stands apart from many other banned doping products for one key reason. It can easily be taken unwittingly. Many of the dietary supplements on the market contain traces of nandrolone or related compounds that will cause a positive test. There may also be a culture amongst individuals of taking vitamin supplements or minerals or protein powders as part of a general well-being policy. Yet at times even some of those apparently harmless supplements can contain prohibited substances. Could Shoaib and Asif claim that they unwittingly took nandrolone in a supplement they thought was clean or one that was given to them by team officials?

Reverting to the matter of kicking a man when he is down came the eyewitness account of Shoaib, Asif and Waqar Younis smoking cannabis in England. This was subsequently denied by some of the actors in the dramatic affair, including the two active bowlers, Azhar Mahmood of Pakistan and Surrey, who was alleged to have supplied “the stuff” to Asif, Shoaib and Afridi, and a chap called Azhar Mota (in American jargon “Fats” Azhar), who also happens to be, amongst others, Asif’s agent. Mr. Mota or “Fats” professes to be a tee-totaller and anti-drugs. It is rather funny that the “eye-witness” did not make these allegations at the time and has now emerged from the woodwork. It is also amusing to note that some of the now righteous former superstars who in their heyday were allegedly not averse to smoking pot, boozing and keeping the company of ladies of easy virtue, are the most vociferous in their condemnation of drug abuse.

Though it is very much doubtful that Shoaib and Asif will escape bans, one hopes they will be able to convince the authorities that they were innocent victims and thus avoid being branded as “addicts.”

*(MU Haq is a life member of PCB, former President of Karachi Cricket Association and a member of MCC) *

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\10\22\story_22-10-2006_pg2_6

ANYONE?
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Re: Breaking News: Akhtar, Asif called back to Pakistan!

lol…
fats or rather FATSO…
:hehe:
PCB the dopes..

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PCB can set own punishments for Akhtar and Asif

Let us hope for extreme leniency to both of them, as per this article.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/10/22/scpaks22.xml

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Re: PCB can set own punishments for Akhtar and Asif

Hmm.. ICC just jumped on the WADA (world anti doping agency)bandwagon this july.. i'm sure theres a grace time period during which ICC makes sure all other cricket boards become compliant.. during that grace period anything can happen. PCB is not yet fully compliant with the WADA and hence they can punish Shoaib and Asif as they like... this is almost good news but then again if we're too leniant that would be another nail in the coffin of PCB's integrity..

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Re: PCB can set own punishments for Akhtar and Asif

So?

You cant lose something you dont have. 2 week bans, or like 5 ODI's is plenty.

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Re: PCB can set own punishments for Akhtar and Asif

i think there will be a heavy fine and maybe 1 or 2 series ban but inshallah Boys will be back for WC