Shocked PCB withdraws Shoaib, Asif from Champions Trophy

Jaipur, Oct 16 (UNI) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today withdrew pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from the ICC Champions Trophy following revelations of the duo testing positive for banned anabolic steroid Nandrolone.

''PCB has decided to withdraw the two players from the ICC Champions Trophy immediately. The players will return home on the first available flight,'' PCB Director of Cricket Operations Salim Altaf said in a statement here.

''The ICC has been informed of this decision and discussions are underway with the ICC regarding their replacement,'' he added.

The PCB official said the tests were conducted in Malaysia at a WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) accredited laboratory and the initial results are being reconfirmed. Mr Altaf said the board would get a final word on the tests by tomorrow.

''In accordance with the PCB's anti-doping policy, the board had arranged to test 19 players prior to the Champions Trophy from WADA accredited laboratory in Malaysia. Shoaib and Asif have tested positive for Nandrolone, which is a banned anabolic steroid, as per the preliminary tests.'' ''The PCB has asked for reconfirmation of the tests from the Malaysian laboratory and the results are expected by tomorrow,'' he revealed.

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