PCB tribunal summons Woolmer for next hearing

Lahore, Oct 29 (UNI) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Tribunal investigating the doping charges against tainted pace duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif has summoned coach Bob Woolmer for the next hearing to be held here on November 1.

The Tribunal, which met yesterday, has extended it's proceedings to four more days and has asked Woolmer to give his 'input' on the scandal which led to the withdrawl of Shoaib and Asif from Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad.

Team's trainer Murray Stevenson and physiotherapist Darren Lifsun have also been asked to appear before the tribunal on the same day.

''We have summoned Woolmer and other team officials because we believe that their input over the issue is necessary before concluding our investigation,'' tribunal member Shahid Hamid was quoted as saying in the local media here.

The hearing on November 1 will be the last by the tribunal which will then submit it's recommendations to the PCB the next day.

''We want to know what Woolmer and the other two officials have to say over the case. They are a part of the team's management and are closely associated with the players which makes it very important to have their statements before taking a final decision,'' Mr Hamid added Shoaib and Asif face a two-year ban if found guilty of doping.

The duo has pleaded not guilty to the charges following the shocking disclosures of them testing positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.

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