LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday extended the four-month doping ban on opener Ahmed Shehzad by six weeks.

Shehzad, 26, was charged that he played club cricket for two different clubs during the four-month ban which is to go on Nov 10.

The PCB issued a notice to Shehzad to explain why he appeared in club cricket during the ban, noting that the act is a violation of PCB’s code of conduct.

Right-handed Shehzad, who played nine friendly matches for two clubs affiliated with the PCB, also shared his game-related activities on social media, which caught PCB’s attention.

Shehzad, who has also not challenged his positive dope test report, again admitted his mistake but claimed that he was ignorant about the law, which prohibits him to play club cricket during the ban.

The batsman also admitted that though his ignorance — about the law — is not an excuse he played club cricket because of having no knowledge about the rules.

However not satisfied with Shehzad’s reply, the PCB decided to add six weeks to his four-month ban which now will end in the last week of December.

The PCB in its order stated, “This instant decision will serve as a constructive lesson not only to Ahmed Shehzad but to other cricketers that strict adherence to applicable rules and regulations is mandatory. A new period of ineligibility of six weeks is imposed on Ahmed Shehzad which shall commence from Nov 11, 2018.”

Shehzad has played 13 Tests, 81 ODIs and 57 T20 Internationals for Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2018