Rawalpindi Express De-railed

Pakistan Cricket Board drugs tribunal has basically axed fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s bacha-kucha career in International Cricket over the doping charges.

The Australian Reports –

A Pakistan Cricket Board drugs tribunal banned Shoaib Akhtar for two years and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif for one year yesterday after finding them guilty of doping offences.

A statement issued by the tribunal said the players had been informed of the decision and had the right to appeal. The bans, effective from October 15, rule both out of next year’s World Cup.

The chairman of the PCB, Nasim Ashraf, said the tribunal’s ruling was not a recommendation but a final decision.
“It is an independent tribunal and their decision is final under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations to which we are a signatory,” Nasim said.

“The players and the board have seven days to lodge an appeal against the bans. The board is still assessing the tribunal decision.”

The tribunal, headed by barrister Shahid Hamid and including former Test captain Intikhab Alam and Waqar Ahmed of the Pakistan Sports Board, was set up by the PCB after both players tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

However some current players and ex-players are not very pleased with the decision because Shoaib’s punishment is the severest since leg-spinner Shane Warne was suspended for one year before the 2003 World Cup for taking a diuretic.

Former Test captains, Javed Miandad and Rashid Latif reacted with shock to the announcement.

“I am deeply hurt and disappointed. It is a sad day for Pakistan cricket,” Miandad said.

Latif said the two players should appeal.

“The players should appeal against the ban because they claim they are innocent and have taken the substance by mistake,” he said.

Well I highly doubt that Shoaibji will be pardoned since now re-appealing means doubting the integrity of the Almighty-Pakistani Justice System. But all is not lost here for the Rawalpindi Express, he should move to Mumbai and get in-touch with the ever-ready battery of Desi-Media aka Mr. Mahesh Bhatt, who would by all means be ready to use him as his inspiration for his next venture.

On the other hand, West Indies have thrashed the South African Team’s dream of entering the finals of the on-going Champions Trophy. West Indies now face the trophy-hungry Australian Team in the finals.

Few days back, it was written that the West Indies captain Brain Lara believes that Indian Team’s coach Greg Chappell had once taunted his team by stating that the West Indians had forgotten how to win. And this very remark was the sole reason for his team’s 360 degree u-turn performance wise – they defeated India by three wickets to book a place in the Champions Trophy semi-finals.

Now this gets me thinking – who the heck is Greg Chappell actually working for, us or them?