Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
I say throw in all the newbie bowlers in the deep waters of World Cup... what will happen? We will lose at most? Try the bunch of Akhtar Ayub, Jamshed, Anwar Ali (not necessarily all in same game).
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
**Pakistan pair hit by doping bans **
Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have been banned from all international and domestic cricket for failing a drugs test.
Shoaib, 31, will serve a two-year ban and Asif, 23, will be unable to play for 12 months after testing positive for nandrolone, a banned steroid.
The pair waived their right to have tests on their B samples carried out.
And the punishments were handed out by a three-man tribunal appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“We gave a full chance to both the pacemen to fight their cases and after a thorough inquiry we feel they failed to prove their innocence,” said lawyer Shahid Hamid, the chairman of the panel.
"The process of doping was investigated carefully. We made sure the tests were conducted properly, samples reached the laboratory in Malaysia safely and there was no error in testing in the laboratory.
“Both the players were satisfied and accepted the tests and gave their point of view but after a thorough inquiry and bound by the Wada (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) we reached the decision.”
The inquiry was launched after Shoaib and Asif were sent home from the ICC Champions Trophy in India, although the tests were carried out three weeks before the tournament began.
It is the most high-profile drugs case in cricket since Australia’s Shane Warne banned for a year in 2003 for testing positive for two diuretics.
And the verdicts round off a depressing period for Pakistan cricket, which saw national team captain Inzamam-ul-Haq banned for four games for bringing the game into disrepute during the fourth Test in England in August.
That was followed by the resignation of PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and the team’s elimination from the Champions Trophy at the first round stage following defeats by New Zealand and South Africa.
The suspensions mean Shoaib and Asif will miss next year’s World Cup in the Caribbean and some observers believe it may be the end of Shoaib’s chequered international career after 42 Tests and 133 one-day internationals.
Known as the Rawalpindi Express, he is the quickest bowler in world cricket, having broken the 100mph mark during a game against England at the 2003 World Cup.
Prior to his appearance before the tribunal, he insisted he had never knowingly taken performance-enhancing substances.
“I have always played the game fair and I give 100% and do not feel that I need to take drugs to help my bowling,” he said.
Asif, who only established himself in the national team earlier this year, has not made any public comment about the matter.
Source: BBC SPORT | Cricket | Pakistan pair hit by doping bans
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
Pakistan pair hit by doping bans
Sorry R_E just posted it... :)
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
Wowwww…….sad news indeed…..But I am still sure that we will regroup to put up a good show in the world cup. I dont know why but I have a feeling that Pakistan will do great Inshallah in the next world cup. And no, I am not being patriotic. We have always done great when pushed to wall. Let’s hope for the best.
With this breaking news, Shoaib’s career has practically come to an end. He will be close to 33 by the time the ban ends. Frankly speaking, it would be good for him to start selling vegetables by then in Rawalpindi. Asif will have no serious effect on his career as long as he stays in a positive frame of mind, learn from this experience and grow as a mature person. One year is no big deal and he is still young. Given depleted bowling resources in Pakistan camp, I don’t foresee any major fast bowler emerging in next 12 months who can seriously challenge Asif’s place (unless sami finds a **taweez from a baba jee *and starts performing to his potential). Asif will be just fine. It is Shoaib who must start looking for a *Villain** role in Bollywood movies more seriously.
By the way, I am not impressed by this idiot Dr Naseem Ashraf, the new PCB chairman directly imported from USA. He is trying too hard to stamp his authority in whichever possible. Last week, he made some unwanted, reprehensible and irresponsible comments about Pakistani cricketers and their involvement with religion. Our GORA coach, Bob Woolmer, has no problem with it and he sees religion as a catalyst in bringing players together but this idiot Naseem Ashraf is trying to be a “visionary” leader. Any Tom Dick and Harry can become president of Pakistan cricket as long as he is good at sucking up to big boss Musharaff. Shame on Musharaff for turning the whole country into a private entity and for acting as a CEO. I want to know the credentials of this Naseem Ahsraf and why the hell he has been chosen to head Pakistan cricket.
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
Because he is Mush khaas admi and this Naseem will not hesitate to lick Mush balls if there is an opportunity.
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
As ehsan bhai and other said, its tough but right decision. Let see if we call any U-19 pacers in next one year. I think we should bring them in the camps atleast.
The only good thing from this news is that Pakistan’s ***** awaam will not be hoping for World Cup. 
Lets concerntrate on true cricket, Test cricket that is. Lets beat Austrailia in Austrailia in next tour to Kangrooland. Yayye!!!
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
If I was bitter I wouldn’t call them ‘super stars’.
What’s sarcastic about this – I think they were one of the **very few players **who can be given this label and see nothing wrong with that.
I suppose you are offended and used the word ‘**please’ **– therefore I will do as you requested this time.
However, I can’t guarantee that this may happen in the future as everyone should be allowed to express their views / opinions.
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
I saw the breaking news during the auz vs nz game I was shocked
there goes our chances of winning the world cup
shoaib career is over
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
I think to say our chances of winning the world cup are over is not quite right. They have become more difficult, but not impossible. Be optimistic. On another note I am glad we did the right thing rather than trying to win the world cup by hiding the test result.
Go Pak.
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
Shoiab should consider alternative careers after his ban i.e. Bollywood, Lollywood. Any other ideas for him as I can't think he may be good at?
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
What’s sarcastic about this – I think they were one of the **very few players **who can be given this label and see nothing wrong with that.
I suppose you are offended and used the word ‘*please’ *– therefore I will do as you requested this time.
However, I can’t guarantee that this may happen in the future as everyone should be allowed to express their views / opinions.
Reading your posts pre-post England tour and your use of "super-stars" for the team and their criticism/ridicule by you ... it left me an impression that you are bitter about the team and hence use this term of "super-star" in sarcastic way.... anyway if that is not the case then I apologize and you can continue with your use of the terms.
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
No need to apoligise.
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
While, the decision that PCB took is correct both morally and technically, it is mind boggling to see a doctor becoming PCB chairman out of nowhere.
Thank you Mr. Ashraf for taking a decision on merit but your decision would be more convincing if you were also selected on merit and not by sucking up to your big boss. Shame on you for accepting a position without merit and then preaching everyone about merit. Naseem was overwhelmingly active in throwing dinners and parties for Musharaff in USA. And though he did a phenomenal job in running a non profit organization HDF, cricket is primarily a full fledge business in today’s world and does not deserve to be run by someone like Naseem.
What bother me most is that Naseem is trying too hard to become a “visionary” leader and stamp his authority in whichever way possible. Why the hell would you comment on a sensitive issue like religion when the team is already going through a tough phase? Especially when our foreign coach has confirmed so many times that there is no pressure on any one to practice religion in our team. After all shoaib and asif were taking drugs at the same time when rest of the team was saying prayers but no one ever questioned shoaib or asif’s commitment to team just because they were not “good” Muslims.
There is absolutely nothing wrong in taking tough decisions to clean the mess but if decisions are being taken by one person with no constitutional backup, there is always a danger of excessive use of power. That is what scares me most.
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
Why Asif was banned for just 1 year and Akhter for 2, anybody knows?
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
A tale of intrigue, injuries and incidents
Osman Samiuddin
November 1, 2006
*If you wanted to write about Shoaib Akhtar, going by his figures would be among the worst ways to do it. Eight years, 42 Tests, 165 wickets, 133 ODIs, 208 wickets; it's not even a tenth of the story. A year on from his finest performance over a full series, his knees and one ankle are crocked, chit-chat about his action continues and he now faces a two-year lay-off after failing a random drugs test. Cricinfo casts a glance at the troubles, travails, intrigues, injuries, incidents, controversies and scandals of the Rawalpindi Express
*
1996 Dropped from the Pakistan squad for the Sahara Cup against India on grounds of indiscipline and poor attitude. His international debut is thus delayed by over a year.
**
1997** Tours England with Pakistan `A' and makes an impact on and off the field; is cited for indiscipline by the Pakistan manager in the end of tour report. Finally makes his international debut in November in the second Test against West Indies at Rawalpindi.
1998 February brings his first major impact; 5 for 43 against South Africa at Durban in Pakistan's only Test win in South Africa.
1999 The breakthrough year; starts with those two balls at Kolkatta and continues through the World Cup, where he ends not only as one of the leading wicket-takers, but also its leading star. Soon after, he signs a contract to play for Nottinghamshire. He ends the year by being called for the first time in his career in Australia by umpires Peter Willey and Darrell Hair and John Reid, the match referee; a pattern for highs followed inevitably and immediately by lows is set.
2000 Bowling action is cleared early in the year but a rib injury forces him to miss the start of the county season. A side strain then forces him out for the rest of the season and then a shoulder injury rules him out of England's visit to Pakistan in the winter. Knee and ankle injuries are also added to the catalogue before the year is out.
2001 Returns in March for his first international outing in ten months against New Zealand. Five wickets suggests he is back but breaks down with a hamstring injury nine balls into the next game...and is called again by umpires Steve Dunne and Doug Cowie. A report from the University of Western Australia concludes his action is the result of "unique physical characteristics." Pakistani officials say the report clears him'. Misses much of England summer tour due to injury and poor health and is called again in November in Sharjah. Again, he iscleared' by the University in December.
2002 Hit by a brick from the Dhaka crowd in January, forcing him to miss end of tour. Recovers to destroy New Zealand twice at home, in the process bowling the first-ever 100 mph delivery. Blitzes Australia twice later in the year but is banned for an ODI after throwing a bottle into the crowds in Zimbabwe. Caught ball tampering in first Test, though he escapes punishment. A knee injury rules him out of the Test series against South Africa.
2003 Axed from Pakistan team after a poor World Cup and told by PCB chief Tauqir Zia to clean up his act or be removed from team forever. Recalled in May for a triangular in Sri Lanka and promptly becomes the second player ever to be banned for ball tampering. Appointed vice-captain for Test against South Africa and is served up a lawsuit by a Pakistani citizen for attending a fashion show on a night of religious significance. Banned for one Test and two ODIs for abusing Paul Adams in first Test. Misses Test in New Zealand with calf and groin injuries but is photographed one day before enjoying a jet-ski ride, much to his management's chagrin. Typically, returns for second Test, helps Pakistan win with a stupendous seven-wicket burst (11 in the match) and gets injured again in the ODI series.
2004 A disappointing series against India ends with a back injury in the final Test. Unable to bowl for the rest of the match, he comes out to bat later, freely smacking boundaries in a 14-ball 28. Inzamam publicly questions the authenticity of the injury . Amid disquiet over his commitment and attitude, Shoaib is called before a medical inquiry which eventually finds his injury to be a genuine one . Returns to the squad where on the tour to Australia at the year's end his true Jekyll and Hyde nature comes out. He fights a lone battle against Australian batsmen in the first two Tests, but in the process is disciplined by match referees (for sending Mathew Hayden on his way) and injures his shoulder at Perth. By the time of the last Test in Sydney, looks physically spent and rumours of disciplinary breaches and problems with the team management emerge.
2005 Starts the year with a hamstring injury and misses most of the VB Series. Hamstring keeps him out of the India tour and fitness problems preclude his inclusion for the tour to the Carribean. On the bright side, he is offered a Bollywood role. Relationship with both Inzamam . and Bob Woolmer erodes steadily and his stock is at its lowest ebb when he is verbally maligned by Worcestershire chairman John Elliott for being a disruptive influence. Comes back for the series against England after proving his fitness in a training camp, finishes with 17 wickets . and silences any number of critics with a rehabilitated performance. Ankle injury surfaces in the last Test at Lahore.
2006 Questions are raised about his action again, this time, by Greg Chappell after the Faisalabad Test against India. Ankle injury becomes a stress fracture and rules him out of the ODI series. All the while rumours fly about ICC concern over his action although no official action is taken or statement made. Injury forces him to miss the Sri Lanka tour and doctors discover soon after a degenerative knee condition which threatens to end his career. Is due to undergo surgery, the results of which will determine whether or not he can continue playing but speculation about whether it is his action or his injury which have forced him out intensifies.
2006 Banned for two years after testing positive for the banned substance Nandrolone, a verdict that, at the age of 31, could well spell the end of his career. After recovering from ankle and knee problems that forced him out of much of the tour of England, Shoaib fails an internal drugs test carried out by the PCB, and is withdrawn from the Champions Trophy squad along with his team-mate, Mohammad Asif. Despite protesting his innocence, a three-man tribunal finds the pair guilty, although Asif cops only a one-year ban
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
how many pakistani players got banned after the match fixing scandal when half of the team was involved.?
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
None as far as I remember.
**‘Wasim Akram
**Wasim’s great career was often tainted by controversy, not least in the Caribbean in April 1993, his maiden tour as Pakistan’s captain. During the team’s stop-over in Grenada, he was arrested along with three team-mates - Waqar Younis, Aqib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmed - and two female British tourists, and charged with possession of marijuana. The Pakistan management strongly protested the charges, claiming that the players had been “set up” in a bid to unsettle the squad. The row reached diplomatic levels as Grenadan cricket officials lobbied the Prime Minister, Nicholas Braitwaite, and asked him to intervene on the players’ behalf. In the end the storm blew over, but the start of the first Test in Trinidad was postponed by a day to allow the players to recover from the mental stress.’
Source: http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/columns/content/current/story/263383.html
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
^well if you can't ban players who were losing matches for pakistan on purpose to make money and not just against bengladesh...even important ones like the one against india in the world cup in Bengalore,then why ban players for something which is less serious than match fixing.Moeen Khan,Saqlain,Wasim Akram etc own expesive real estate in London,this is cricket not soccer where players make millions.Too many players in Pakistan got away with doing things much worse than taking steroids.
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
According to BBC, the next time u see shoaib, may be in a movie.
Would u like to see a movie with Shoaib as hero and heroin being meera or rani mukerji or anyother high profile actress.
Re: Breaking News: Shoaib and Asif BANNED
Seriously - Moin Khan, Saqlian & Wasim Akram own property in London. I didn't know that. I suppose Saqlain may have bought property as he was playing for Surrey for number of years.