Indian cricketers unlikely to be exempted from WADA clause: PCB

Lahore, Aug. 5 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said Indian cricketers are unlikely to be spared from signing the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) agreement despite the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) terming it to be 'unreasonable'.

"All the cricket-playing nations, including Pakistan are WADA compliant. So, I don't think there is any way any country can escape this issue. I don't know how they (India) will get around this automatic mechanism set up by WADA for its compliant nations," the Daily Times quoted PCB CEO Salim Altaf, as saying.

Stating that the WADA rules are very clear and envisaged strong penalties for players, who missed a Test or failed to disclose their whereabouts properly, Altaf said that Pakistan had no issues with the contentious 'whereabouts clause' in the agreement.

"The automatic anti-doping and testing mechanism outlined in the new agreement by WADA is acceptable to us and nine of our male and two female cricketers have signed it," Altaf said.

Indian cricketers have refused to sign the document, pointing out that the contentious clause puts their security at risk, as they have to inform the International Cricket Council (ICC) and WADA about their whereabouts three months in advance.

Former Pakistan cricket captain Moin Khan has also said there is no way India could avoid signing the WADA agreement.

"It is a matter of time and it is only because of India's influential position in world cricket that the ICC is giving it time, but there is no getting around WADA compliant rules," he added. (ANI)