December 05, 2006	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 13, 1427

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LAHORE, Dec 4: Pakistan Cricket Board's three-member anti-doping appellate tribunal will announce the much-awaited verdict on the appeals of banned pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in Karachi on Tuesday.

“Former Governor of Sindh, Justice Fakharuddin G. Ebrahim, as head of the tribunal, will announce the decision at 12pm on Tuesday," a PCB spokesman confirmed to Dawn on Monday.

The tribunal, comprising former Test cricketer Hasib Ahsan and doping expert Dr Danish Zaheer as its members, was constituted on Nov 11 to review the appeals of Shoaib and Asif against their bans from all cricket for two and one years respectively. The bans were imposed by a PCB anti-doping commission on Nov 1 following the confirmation of banned substance Nandrolone's usage by the two fast bowlers.

Well-informed sources told Dawn that the tribunal has been unable to reach a consensus on the verdict and the decision on Tuesday is unlikely to be a unanimous one.

The decision, apparently, has been reached by Justice Ebrahim and Hasib while Dr Danish has not given his consent to it.

It is said that Justice Ebrahim had finalised the decision last week but Dr Danish insisted on it be delayed it and advised the tribunal chief to get more input from the players' lawyers — Abid Hasan Minto and Aftab Gul.

Though Justice Ebrahim agreed to Danish's request, he was not happy over the delay.

Sources said the tribunal was likely to award only a little concession to the bowlers against the wishes of Dr Danish who maintained a soft corner for them.

Dr Danish is, apparently, of the view that since the WADA's rules and regulations had not been followed while taking the urine samples of the bowlers, they (bowlers) deserved a major relaxation in their punishment.

The judge, however, was of the view that as the bowlers did not show any reservations before the Anti-doping Commission (headed by Barrister Shahid Hamid) over the collection process of samples, its handling and subsequent transfer to Malaysian laboratory, they did not deserve acquittal on this point.

The judge, sources said, had been giving importance to WADA's rules and regulations since the case has drawn a lot of international attention and all eyes would be on tribunal for their verdict. Hasib also pushed for players' acquittal early on but later he was convinced by Justice Ebrahim not to go for a drastic change in players' punishment.

According to WADA's manager media relations, Frederiz Donze , the international body has been keeping a tight vigil on the case proceedings.

"In compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code-the core document that serves as the foundation for the global fight against doping in sport will now carefully review the reasons for the two decisions. It will also liaise with the

ICC and will consider whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, should any of these decisions not comply with the Code."

The PCB chairman, Dr Nasim Ashraf, however has termed the case an internal issue and claimed that WADA and the ICC had nothing to do with it.