Inzamam says doping scandal will affect team performance

Lahore, Oct 17 (UNI) The brave face put up by Younis Khan and Bob Woolmer notwithstanding, banned Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said the doping scandal involving fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif would impact on the team's performance in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Expressing disappointment on the latest crisis faced by Pakistan, Inzamam said it would put tremendous pressure on the remaining players who would have to make extra efforts for overcoming the opposition.

''Of course, the situation is not good for Pakistan and it will definitely have an impact on the team's performance in the ICC Champions Trophy,'' Inzamam was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper.

He said since doping tests were not so common in cricket, the players needed to act more carefully to avoid any harsh punishment.

Inzamam added that the PCB took the right decision by calling back the two cricketers from India because ''if the ICC had caught them for the offence, the punishment would have been more severe.'' UNI XC PDS DS1403