Pakistan's Twenty20 probables to undergo dope tests

Lahore, July 15 (UNI) Taking a cue from the infamous drugs scandal that shook the cricketing fraternity before the ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to conduct out-of-competition dope tests on the 30 Twenty20 World Cup probables so as to avoid another embarassing moment in the history of the nation's game.

While announcing the decision, Zakir Khan, PCB's Director of Cricket Operations said the dope tests would be conducted soon as part of the country's zero-tolerance policy on the use of drugs in sports.

''We have decided to have dope tests on all 30 of our players in the preliminary squad because we just want to avoid any more incidents and also because we remain committed to the ICC strict anti-doping policy in the sport,'' Zakir was quoted by the Pakistani media as saying.

The national side had to face the most embarrassing drugs scandal last October when the pace duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were ruled out of the Champions Trophy at the last moment after failing an out-of-competition dope test.

Later, they were also mysteriosly omitted from the Caribbean World Cup squad to avoid any further humiliation.

But recently, the duo was exonerated of all charges and had their bans lifted by an appeals panel after which thay have been included in the Twenty20 preliminary squad.

UNI