KARACHI: Pakistan's left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman has tested positive for recreational drugs and is likely to face a ban, according to reports.

The 32-year-old failed a drugs test while playing for Somerset during the summer in England. The length of his suspension will be decided according to the Anti-Doping Agency code after his test results are confirmed. The England and Wales Cricket Board has not confirmed whether the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been informed.

If banned for a lengthy period, the spinner is likely to miss Pakistan's series against South Africa in early 2013.

"Frankly speaking I really don't know how this test has come positive because I don't remember taking any medicines or prohibited items that might contain banned substances," cricketcountry.com quoted Rehman as saying.

Reuters added that the PCB has withdrawn Rehman from the Sialkot Stallions squad due to play in the Champions League Twenty20 qualifying tournament.

Rehman played four Championship matches for Somerset and took 27 wickets. For Pakistan, he has played 17 Tests, 25 One-Day Internationals and seven Twenty20 matches but was left out of the squad for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.