Pakistan set to open doping tribunal for bowlers

KARACHI, Oct 20 (Reuters) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal investigating the positive drug tests returned by fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif will hold its preliminary hearing tomorrow, a board official said today.

Shoaib and Asif were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India on Monday after the pair tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

The board announced that Dr Waqar Ahmad, who is director of sports medicine on the Pakistan Sports Board, would join former test captain Intikhab Alam and barrister Shahid Hamid on the panel.

''The tribunal is scheduled to have its first hearing tomorrow and they will decide how soon they can submit their recommendations,'' PCB director of cricket operations Saleem Altaf told reporters.

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