ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Monday protested his innocence of doping charges and said he would never cheat.

“I cannot say much at this time about what has happened but I just want to assure everyone that I am innocent of doing anything I shouldn't have,” he said in his diary on the Bigstarcricket.com website.

Pakistan recalled Shoaib and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif from the Champions Trophy in India on Monday after they tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

Shoaib said Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, the patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), had asked him not to make any detailed comments on the matter and he wanted to respect his wishes.

“All I can say is that I have not knowingly taken any performance enhancing drugs and would never cheat my team-mates or opponents in this way,” said Shoaib in the diary.

“I have always played the game fair and I give 100 percent and do not feel that I need to take drugs to help my bowling.

“I am gutted to be missing the Champions Trophy and I will return to Pakistan to see what has happened and what needs to be done. That's all I have to say for now.”—AFP