Cricket Blog

The PCB keeps finding itself in more and more trouble. This time the ICC has demanded proof of the so-called “injuries” to Shoaib and Asif before their replacements can be added to the Pakistani squad. If PCB fails to provide sufficient evidence that Shoaib and Asif are injured then Pakistan will have a 13 member squad to play with. This will surely be a disaster for their campaign and this is another instance of complete lack of professionalism from the PCB. Rather than suspending Shoaib and Asif, they are risking the future of their entire cricket administration.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board have officially announced that both Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif are not going to participate in this year’s World Cup due to “fitness” problems. This marks an end to weeks of speculation regarding these two players and comes hours after an ICC release that players will be “target-tested” during the World Cup.

Both Shoaib and Asif had been banned from playing cricket for 2 years and 1 year respectively due to a failed dope-test. However, the ban was soon removed on grounds that the players took the banned substances unknowingly. This had made the ICC furious and the decision to target-test players must definitely be a direct result of this.

However, now that both Shoaib and Asif are out “injured”, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer and skipper Inzamam ul-Haq will have a difficult task on their hands.

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Disgraced duo Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have been warned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that they will not be part of the World Cup squad if a drugs test is not done on time. PCB Chairman, Mr Nassem Ashraf, has made it quite clear that he will have no tolerance on the use of suspect/banned drugs. If Shoaid and Asif fail these tests, then it is quite clear that there careers may well be over. Both had failed a drugs test in November and had been banned to play international cricket, Shoaib for 2 years and Asif for 1 year. However, the ban was lifted in controversial circumstances by a PCB appellate committee in December, on the grounds they did not take the banned substance knowingly.

Shoaib is a king when it comes to controversies and this latest one must not come as a surprise. Both the players are key to Pakistan’s new ball attack and if they fail to make the cut, then the team will have a big hole left in their bowling department. However, considering that pitches in the Caribbean are more likely to favour slow bowlers, it may not be all that bad for Pakistan. But a recent 3-1 drubbing by South Africa has clearly revealed a lot of chinks in Pakistan’s campaign. This could very well be a nightmare World Cup for Pakistan, but considering how unpredictable this team is, anything can happen.

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