KARACHI, Jan 27: The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has told Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif that the appeals process moved by the World Anti-Doping Agency against their exoneration of a drug offence is on.

Both the players were contacted in South Africa and told about the appeals process held by CAS, sources said.

The CAS has already asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to submit a detailed reply to

the points raised by WADA against the lifting of the bans on the two players by an appeals panel of the PCB in December.

Sources said the CAS had conveyed to the players how the appeals process would continue but a PCB official, when contacted, denied any knowledge of this development.

"I don't know about this. But the PCB stance remains very clear - the players have been cleared of doping charges after a proper appeals process and are available for selection and the matter is closed for us," Ahsan Malik, PCB's Director (Communications), said.

"As far as the CAS process is concerned, we have challenged the authority and jurisdiction of WADA in this matter since the dope tests were conducted by us out of competition," Ahsan said.

An ICC spokesman said the world governing body wanted a swift conclusion to the matter. He welcomed Pakistan's decision to conduct fresh dope tests on all 30 players shortlisted for the World Cup.

"The ICC welcomes Pakistan's commitment to help ensure cricket is a drug-free sport as that is one way in which everyone can help make a strong sport even stronger," he said. — Agencies