- DHAKA: Three Pakistani cricketers including pace bowler Shoaib Akthar were taken for a random dope test ahead of the ICC cricket World Cup, a team official said on Thursday.
"The ICC conducted a dope test of Shoaib Akthar, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and Umar Gul on Wednesday," team manager Intikhab Alam said.
"It's a normal process and I think some members of every team will be tested at some stage," Alam said.
An ICC spokesman in Dhaka declined to give details.
"The ICC normally does not want to comment on dope tests," said Sami-ul-Hasan, The ICC's media and communications operations manager.
Shoaib, who was recalled for the World Cup after being out of action for a major part of the last three years, tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone in 2006.
He did not play against Bangladesh in Pakistan's first warm-up match on Tuesday.
Pakistan will sign off their preparation for the Feb. 19-April 2 tournament on Friday with a warm-up game against England at Fatullah, near the Bangladesh capital Dhaka.