November 03, 2006	Friday	Shawwal 10, 1427

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LAHORE, Nov 2: Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq and coach Bob Woolmer said on Thursday that both pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif should appeal against the ban imposed on them by the PCB’s anti-doping commission.

The commission slapped a two-year ban on Shoaib and a one-year one on Asif after a thorough inquiry into their positive dope tests conducted by the PCB ahead of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.

"Appeal is their right and they should use it", Inzamam said while talking to Dawn on Thursday.

"I am disappointed over the decision which is a tough one and the team will definitely feel their absence," he said.

Inzamam said he still believed the two bowlers did not use any banned medicines deliberately.

Inzamam, however, said all the boys should be more careful in future and should not take any medicine without consulting the board doctors.

Coach Woolmer also advised the cricketers to use their right of appeal. He said the team would suffer from the decision as both were the spearheads of the team. He said Shoaib had no rival as far as his speed was concerned while Asif's accuracy was commendable.

The former England player said WADA’s description on the usage of nandrolone was controversial as in some cases the players had been acquitted despite the fact the quantity of the medicine in the sample was 24ng/ml, compared to 13.07ng/ml for Asif and 14.06 in Shoaib's samples.

He advised both the bowlers to hire the services of WADA experts while going for their appeal.