KARACHI, Jan 7: The World Anti-Doping Agency wants the hearing into its appeal against the exoneration of Pakistan pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif to begin in two weeks' time at the Court of Arbitration of Sport.

WADA has served a reminder to the Pakistan Cricket Board in this regard, a few days after the PCB appeared to have got some leeway when the CAS was reported to have said it would take four months to settle the case.

If the hearing starts within a fortnight as WADA wants, it could assume significance for the availability of the two pacemen for the World Cup to be staged in the Caribbean in March-April.

However, PCB is still adamant that the issue falls outside WADA's jurisdiction.

"We have got the CAS letter informing us WADA wants a hearing in two weeks' time but we have again challenged their jurisdiction and authority to control or monitor in what is a in-house case," a PCB official said.

Fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were first banned for two and one year respectively in November by a drugs inquiry tribunal of the Board after they tested positive for nandrolone and were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India.

But another appeals commission of the board then exonerated them of the charges and lifted the bans in early December, leading to a strong reaction from WADA and the International Cricket Council.

"Before making any proceedings with the case, WADA must first confirm if it can interfere in our matter which is now closed for us," the official said.

"We are not signatories of WADA and neither do we come under the Pakistan Olympic Association," he insisted.

Whatever the PCB’s stance in doping case may be, it remains a fact that the Pakistan government is a signatory to the Copenhagen declaration of WADA on the International Anti-Doping policy and technically, the PCB policies also fall under WADA’s purview.

Another PCB official insisted on Monday that the board will continue to resist any move from WADA in the doping case and confirmed that the PCB was in touch with a top legal team to remain prepared for any eventuality.—Agencies