ICC's WADA anti-doping clause not giving Pak cricketers sleepless nights

Karachi, Aug.1 (ANI): Pakistan cricketers are not worried by the International Cricket Council's (ICC) WADA anti-doping clause, according to which players must inform the ICC about their expected whereabouts in advance.

The new WADA code requires players to inform the ICC three months in advance a location and time that they will be available each day (between 6 am and 11 pm) in that quarter for testing. If a certain player is not found at the place specified by him earlier, it will be recorded against his name.

Three such strikes against a particular player would mean that the player has breached the code of conduct and could face penalties up to a two-year ban.

Sources said that barring fast bowler Mohammad Asif, who is serving a year's ban for testing positive for a banned substance during the Indian Premier League's (IPL) inaugural season, all centrally contracted Pakistani players have accepted the new anti-doping clause.

They said that since Asif has not played any first class cricket from July last year, he was not eligible to sign the WADA code. Moreover, Asif does not have a central contract.

"Asif is not eligible to sign the WADA Code at the moment having not played since last July and he also does not have a central contract with the board. Asif will sign the document immediately after his ban ends on Sept 22," The Daily Times quoted sources, as saying. (ANI)