Pakistan files protest with ICC over Speed comments

KARACHI, Mar 2 (Reuters) Pakistan has accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of trying to influence the World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports against bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

In a letter sent to ICC president Percy Sonn, the Pakistan Cricket Board protested CEO Malcolm Speed's statement, in which he said that allowing the pacemen to play despite testing positive for prohibited substances was an embarrassment to the sport.

He also indicated they would be picked for doping tests in the West Indies at this month's World Cup, although the players were withdrawn from the squad through injury almost immediately after the statement was issued yesterday.

''Speed's statement can influence the WADA case in the CAS and was uncalled for at this stage,'' senior PCB official Subhan Ahmed told reporters.

''We are hurt by some of his comments and the reference to our players. Because we have reiterated our zero-tolerance policy towards drugs in sports,'' he added.

Both Shoaib and Asif tested positive for nandrolone last October and were initially banned and than exonerated by in-house committees of the PCB.

However, WADA is challenging the lifting of the suspensions at the CAS and the case is expected to be heard within the next few months.

REUTERS PDS BST1942