Pakistan’s Aktar and Asif get drugs ban

As if Pakistan’s time at the moment couldn’t get any worse, it just did, as fast bowling duo Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif failed tests for the banned steroid nandrolone.

Shoaib’s doctor proferred the predictably slim excuse for his alleged actions:

“Akhtar is definitely innocent and I can vouch for him,” said Tauseef. “He doesn’t know anything about medicines, and since he recently suffered ankle and knee injuries, he must have taken some medicines which are painkillers but come under the banned substances.”

I distinctly remember the same excuse being used when Shane Warne was banned for 2 years for using diuretics, saying his mum gave them to him to lose weight. Yeh. We didn’t believe it then, and I doubt anyone will believe it this time.

PCB Coach Bob Woolmer understated things saying they couldn’t afford to get bogged down by these events, but considering they’re still considerably bogged in by recent events, this is just another event that’ll have the media talking for a few days. Given that Shoaib has literally just returned from a lengthy injury lay-off, this could really be the end of him.

No doubt that this won’t be the best preparation for Pakistan’s trophy opener against Sri Lanka tomorrow, nor do any help for the Pakistani “we are not cheats honest” argument.