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| December 30, 2006 | Saturday | Zilhaj 08, 1427 |
Doping-tainted Asif in, Shoaib out of South Africa tour
KARACHI, Dec 29: Pakistan's doping-tainted bowling pair had contrasting fortunes on Friday as Shoaib Akhtar was left out but fellow paceman Mohammad Asif was included in the Test team for next month's tour of South Africa.
Akhtar, 31, and Asif, 24, tested positive for steroid nandrolone in October and were banned by a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) anti-doping commission last month.
However, both had their bans overturned by an appeal committee earlier this month.
After the overturn, the PCB said both Akhtar and Asif were free to play and any reservations from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or from the International Cricket Council would not affect the two players.
However, the WADA challenged the lifting of the ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Switzerland, and can stop the two from featuring in international events.
Pakistan selector Iqbal Qasim said the PCB had given no instructions to selectors not to select Akhtar and Asif.
“Both Akhtar and Asif were among the probables announced earlier and there were no restrictions on them. Asif proved his fitness and bowled well in the domestic event while Akhtar lacked fitness for a five-day Test,” Qasim told AFP.
Asif played the last of his six Tests against England at The Oval in August this year and did not play in Pakistan's home series against the West Indies due to the doping case.
Another paceman, Shabbir Ahmed, cleared after completing a one-year ban over an illegal bowling action, also failed to find a place in the team but struggling fast bowler Mohammad Sami was recalled.
Also recalled was middle-order batsman Asim Kamal. All-rounder Abdul Razzaq was left out of the Tests due to a calf muscle injury.
Qasim said Pakistan had a balanced squad and could compete well in South Africa. “Asif's return has strengthened the bowling attack and our recent 2-0 win against the West Indies proved that the team is shaping well. I hope they do well in South Africa,” said Qasim.
The team for one Twenty20 international and five One-day Internationals that follow the Test series will be named later, said Qasim, a former Pakistan spinner.
Pakistan begin the six-week tour with a three-day practice match against South Africa A at Kimberley from January 6.
The three Tests will be played in Centurion (January 11-15), Port Elizabeth (Jan 19-23) and Cape Town (January 26-30).
The five one-dayers will be played in Centurion (February 4), Durban (Feb 7), Port Elizabeth (Feb 9), Cape Town (Feb 11) and Johannesburg (Feb 14).
The Twenty20 international will be held in Johannesburg on February 2.
Pakistan's Test squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria, Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami. —AFP
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