KARACHI, 2 March 2007 — Pakistan pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were ruled out of the World Cup yesterday in a move that cricket chiefs insisted was due to injury and not doping.
Akhtar has been suffering from knee and hamstring problems and Asif has an elbow injury, but the tainted pair were also living in the shadow of pre-tournament drugs tests ordered by Pakistan.
They will be replaced by Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami for the World Cup which starts in the Caribbean on March 13, with the side still reeling from the loss of all-rounder Abdul Razzaq with a knee injury.
“It is a huge blow,” coach Bob Woolmer told a news conference with captain Inzamam ul-Haq. “But their injuries would have taken more time and we couldn’t wait any more.” “It is true that our chances have been hit badly by the absence of these two key bowlers, but we will have to show the kind of spirit and team unity which can win us a big event like the World Cup,” he said.
Inzamam added: “This is not an ideal situation for us. We are leaving for the West Indies under tremendous pressure.” The decision brings an end to the saga that began in November when Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year after they tested positive for the steroid nandrolone, initially ruling them out of the World Cup.
The bans were later overturned on the grounds that they took the substance unknowingly. The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland is due to hear an appeal against that decision by the World Anti-Doping Association in April. Several newspapers here reported that private tests, carried out while Akhtar and Asif were having their injuries reassessed in England, revealed they still have the banned substance in their systems. Another positive result in official tests could have made them liable for life bans. “We never conducted private or secret dope tests. It is propaganda against Pakistan,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Naseem Ashraf told a news conference in Islamabad. “Their withdrawal is primarily because of injuries. The injuries were serious and had they played their careers would have been in danger,” he said.
PCB World Cup spokesman Pervez Mir issued a similar denial — a day after saying that the pair had been given more time to prepare for fitness tests.
“Their withdrawal has nothing to do with doping. They were due to feature in dope tests once they regained full fitness but for us the chapter is now closed,” said Mir, who represented Pakistan in the first World Cup in 1975.
The International Cricket Council in a statement issued from its base in Dubai asked Pakistan to apply in writing and provide doctors’ certificates to replace Akhtar and Asif for the World Cup.
However the sport’s governing body said it had cleared Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood to play in the tournament in the Caribbean in place of the injured Abdul Razzaq.
“Pakistan needs to apply in writing to the tournament Technical Committee for permission to replace the players and those applications require a doctor’s certificate substantiating any injury and certifying that the players will not be fit for the event,” the ICC said.
The 31-year-old Akhtar has been beset by injury. He was forced to return home from Pakistan’s tour of South Africa after tearing his hamstring following his 4-36 on the first day of the second Test at Port Elizabeth last month.
Asif, 24, had a recurrence of an elbow injury sustained last year.
“Their injuries will take another two weeks to heal so after consultation with Inzamam ul-Haq we have taken the final decision,” Pakistan chief selector Wasim Bari told AFP.
Pakistan were due to fly out later to the Caribbean, where they play the West Indies in the opening match at Jamaica on March 13.
