Appeals of Shoaib and Asif to be decided next week

MULTAN, Pakistan, Nov 21 (Reuters) A decision on the appeals of Pakistani fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif against their doping bans will be given by next week, the Chairman of the Appellate Commission said today.

Justice Fakhruddin G Ebrahim said proceedings of the appeal hearing had been completed. ''We should give a final verdict on their appeals within a week,'' he said.

Akhtar and Asif were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India last month after they tested positive for a banned steroid, nandrolone.

Their positive results came after the Pakistan cricket Board had held out of competition tests before the Champions Trophy.

A drugs inquiry tribunal headed by a barrister, Shahid Hamid, subsequently heard their cases and banned Akhtar for two years and Asif for one year.

''In my opinion our decision should be final and binding on these players. But in the law you cannot say anything is final,'' Ebrahim said when asked if the banned players could approach the International court of Arbitration for sports if their appeals were rejected.

He said the two players and their lawyers had been given a final questionnaire to fill in and return to the commission within two days.

''After that we will take a decision as we have now heard submissions of their lawyers and those of the Pakistan board,'' Ebrahim said.

The two pacers will miss next year's World Cup in the West Indies if their appeals are not upheld.

REUTERS DH ND2032