Asif, Aktar in Doping Charges

[alternative]

Big news.. Pakistan cricket going downhill with alot of distractions, for the sake of cricket i hope it goes well..

[Pratters]

sorry but i thought pakistan cricket was in a mess

2 months ago before Hairgate happened, it wasn't. I will add 2 months in my statement though.

[Xuhaib]

There are some unconfirmed repots that Younis Khan has also tested positive and he may be also on his way out

[Nnanden]

Absolute shock and horror among the Pak cricket circles its like our 9/11 in sporting terms.

Could`ve picked a better analagy for mine.

[_TiGeR-ToWn_]

I wasnt shocked to see that culprits were from Pakistan.

I am wondering how long do a performance enhancing drug cheat get put of the game for?

[Scaly piscine]

I wasnt shocked to see that culprits were from Pakistan.

I am wondering how long do a performance enhancing drug cheat get put of the game for?

Not long enough if they're Australian... still it was worth it because he dropped the Ashes.

Should be a minimum 2 years in my opinion.

[social]

I wasnt shocked to see that culprits were from Pakistan.

I am wondering how long do a performance enhancing drug cheat get put of the game for?

2 years for first offence

[R_D]

I wasnt shocked to see that culprits were from Pakistan.

I am wondering how long do a performance enhancing drug cheat get put of the game for?

Like Whiny piscine said.. if you're an aussie less than the minimum but otherwise minimum 2 years.

[silentstriker]

Not long enough if they're Australian... still it was worth it because he dropped the Ashes.

Should be a minimum 2 years in my opinion.

I felt Warne should have been banned for two years. Ditto with Asif + Akhtar. If they are found guilty, thats what it should be.

Asif is very young so his career will be fine, but this might very well be the end for Akhtar.

[social]

Like Whiny piscine said.. if you're an aussie less than the minimum but otherwise minimum 2 years.

Difference is that when Warne was "caught", it did not come under the provisions of world-wide anti-doping provisions - I think they've now been brought into alignment.

[SJS]

This is terrible terrible news. I feel for Pakistani fans. Champions Trophy 2006 has suffered a big blow too.

In a news conference I Bob Woolmer confirmed that it was he who advised Pakistan board to go ahead with their own 'internal' testing before ICC started their random testing before the World Cup. He also clarified that it would have been much worse if this had been discovered in the ICC conducted tests. He does have a point here.

It has also been confirmed that Shoaib and Asif were whisked away to Delhi by road avoiding all contacts with journalists and should be on/about to board a flight going home. The fact that Pakistan decided to recall them before the B sample results (expected tomorrow) shows that either the quantum on nandranol is too high for them to allow for any reasonable "other" explanation or they want to show ICC and the world that Pakistan takes 'unlawful' behaviour by its players, howsoever big, very seriously indeed.

One could be a bit uncharitable and say that had "Oval" and the resultant bad publicity not happened, Pakistan may have taken a softer stance but that would be unfair. Pakistan have to be lauded for the prompt action (though the report was recieved more than two days ago from the Malaysian lab) and one hopes that if and when there is confirmation from the B test the punishment will be exemplary. Pakistani cricket needs this catharasis (howsoever painful) and so does world cricket.

[social]

I felt Warne should have been banned for two years. Ditto with Asif + Akhtar. If they are found guilty, thats what it should be.

Asif is very young so his career will be fine, but this might very well be the end for Akhtar.

In the interests of fairness, IF (and it's a big "if" at this stage) they are guilty, then it should be the same suspension as Warne.

Surely missing the Champions Trophy AND the World Cup And being subject to public humiliation is more than punishment enough.

IMO, we shouldnt potentially end someone's career over a first offence

[social]

This is terrible terrible news. I feel for Pakistani fans. Champions Trophy 2006 has suffered a big blow too.

In a news conference I Bob Woolmer confirmed that it was he who advised Pakistan board to go ahead with their own 'internal' testing before ICC started their random testing before the World Cup. He also clarified that it would have been much worse if this had been discovered in the ICC conducted tests. He does have a point here.

It has also been confirmed that Shoaib and Asif were whisked away to Delhi by road avoiding all contacts with journalists and should be on/about to board a flight going home. The fact that Pakistan decided to recall them before the B sample results (expected tomorrow) shows that either the quantum on nandranol is too high for them to allow for any reasonable "other" explanation or they want to show ICC and the world that Pakistan takes 'unlawful' behaviour by its players, howsoever big, very seriously indeed.

One could be a bit uncharitable and say that had "Oval" and the resultant bad publicity not happened, Pakistan may have taken a softer stance but that would be unfair. Pakistan have to be lauded for the prompt action (though the report was recieved more than two days ago from the Malaysian lab) and one hopes that if and when there is confirmation from the B test the punishment will be exemplary. Pakistani cricket needs this catharasis (howsoever painful) and so does world cricket.

I agree.

To date, Pakistan should be applauded for their actions and their stocks have risen in my eyes.

[Gloucefan]

I heard on the radio that they were not definatly not 'recreational drugs' that they were tested positive for. Still how does any drug enhance your cricketing abilities?

[SJS]

I heard on the radio that they were not definatly not 'recreational drugs' that they were tested positive for. Still how does any drug enhance your cricketing abilities?

Drugs dont inhance your 'cricketing abilities' they do things to you physically. These are steroids. Everyone knows what steroids are used by athletes for.

If they enhanced cricketing skils track athletes and weight lifters wouldnt have anyuse for them