November 16, 2006	Thursday	Shawwal 23, 1427

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LAHORE, Nov 15: The much-awaited first hearing of the PCB Anti-doping Appellate Tribunal (ADAT), setup to review the appeals of two suspended fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, was deferred until Monday after lasting just one and a half hour here on Wednesday.

Both the suspended bowlers had filed an appeal to review the decision of the PCB’s doping tribunal earlier this month. The board had then set up the ADAT headed by former Justice Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim with fomer Test cricketer Hasib Ahsan and doping expert Dr Danish Zaheer as members.

On Wednesday, Shoaib appeared before the committee with renowned lawyer Abid Hasan Manto while Asif was accompanied by Aftab Gul, a former Test cricketer who is pleading the pacer’s case.

The first day’s proceeding could not last much longer, mainly because Manto argued that he was unable to plead his client’s case since the PCB had not provided certain documents to him which were necessary for the case.

Justice Fakharuddin instructed the PCB to provide furnish Manto with the required documents and fixed Monday, Nov 20 as the next date of hearing.

"From Monday, the ADAT will hold the hearing every day to reach an early conclusion,” Fakharuddin said.

Manto, one of the senior most lawyers in the country, also pointed out that his client (Shoaib) had received the hearing’s notice on Tuesday and he also also sought some documents from the PCB.

A PCB source later informed that the documents have now been sent to Shoaib's counsel.

Meanwhile, the sudden appearance of Britain-based lawyer Mark in the hearing took everyone by surprise on Wednesday. The PCB had specially invited Gay from England and he left for home immediately after the first hearing ended. Gay, a sports lawyer, had successfully pleaded PCB’s case before the ICC in England over the ball tampering charges levelled by Australian umpire Daryl Hair in the fourth Test at the Oval.

"Gay will assist the ADAT whenever it needed," disclosed Fakharuddin.

Gay made it clear that the PCB’s first priority was a quick disposal of the appeals strictly in accordance with the law. Gay also said he would submit his detailed statement in writing with supporting documents as soon as possible.

Sources added that Shoaib was keen to have the possession of reports of his two dope tests conducted earlier in 2003 and which proved negative. Shoaib, apparently, demanded to know the level of Nandolorne in those reports to strengthen his plea against the doping ban.