November 04, 2006	Saturday	Shawwal 11, 1427

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LAHORE, Nov 3: Pakistan’s dope-tainted fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Friday approached former PCB chairman Lt. Gen. (retd.) Tauqir Zia to seek his advice in filing an appeal against the tribunal’s verdict of slapping a two-year ban on the player.

In the hour-long meeting, Tauqir advised Shoaib to make efforts towards hiring the services of a World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) expert in filing the appeal against tribunal’s decision.

The option to file an appeal to the president of Pakistan, Gen. Pervez Musharraf was also discussed but the idea was rejected by Tauqir who urged the maverick pacer to go through proper channel and try to hire the experts to contest the case, sources told Dawn.

Shoaib, 31, whose career appears at crossroad after the ban, is likely to file an appeal on Monday while Asif is likely to do so on Saturday.

While the PCB office are closed on weekend, the board has instructed Dr Sohail Saleem to collect the appeal drafts from the bowlers. Both Shoaib and Asif have verbally informed the PCB that they would file the appeals.

The two suspended bowlers are eligible to file an appeal to the PCB's Appeal Committee in one week’s time. The board’s appeals committee, is likely to comprise the same three officials – Barrister Shahid Hamid, Intihkab Alam and Dr Waqar - who conducted the inquiry into doping charges earlier.

To many, it came as a surprise when Shoaib was assisted by Dr. Nauman Niaz in the hearing instead of Dr Tauseef Razzaq who has been the fast bowler’s private doctor for the last five years and is still advocating his case in public.

Game’s Analysts, however, said that the suspended bowler had little chance to get any relief even after filing an appeal unless some new facts come to light in near future.