December 02, 2006	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 10, 1427

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LAHORE, Dec 1: Reservations shown by one of three members of the Anti-doping Appellate Tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has compelled the inquiring body to defer the announcement of the decision regarding the appeals of suspended fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif to next week.

According to information gathered by Dawn, Dr Danish Zaheer who is currently in Brunei on a personal assignment, has sent the tribunal chief Fakharuddin G Ebrahim with another questioner to be presented to the lawyers of the two bowlers.

Sources said Fakharuddin, however, raised objections over the questioner, contending that it has been sent after he had finalised the decision and secondly the questions asked in it were not of important nature. But upon the insistence of Dr Danish, Fakharuddin has sent it to the lawyers.

Sources also said the questioner prepared by Dr Danish seek replies from the lawyers and the players in clear 'yes' and 'no' and the lawyers have submitted it on Friday. Dr Danish is now required to give his comments on it in the light of the lawyers’ replies and it could take two more days to finalise the decision.

According to sources, Fakharuddin is likely to announce the decision by Tuesday in Lahore since all the parties will be present on the day. The sources added that the questioner clearly reflected a soft stance for the players, especially for Asif.

It has also been learnt that Hasib Ahsan, a former Test cricketer, was also trying to convince Fakharuddin to waive off the one-year ban imposed on Asif and to curtail the two-year ban on Shoaib by one year.

Meanwhile, rumours are rife that Shoaib Akhtar's lawyer Abid Hasan Minto who has expressed his annoyance over the disparity in punishment of the two bowlers for the same offence, is ready to move High Court if the decision does not come in his client's favour.