Lara urges respect for decision to clear Shoaib and Asif

FAISALABAD, Pakistan, Dec 6 (Reuters) West Indies captain Brian Lara urged respect today for a decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board to clear bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif of doping and said he hoped there would not be a negative reaction.

''We must respect the decision of the Pakistan board. They are people of integrity in there,'' Lara told a news conference before the second one-day international tomorrow.

''I just hope that the negativity surrounding this case does not spiral into anything else,'' he said.

An appeals tribunal, headed by a former judge, cleared Shoaib and Asif yesterday and lifted their two and one-year bans after finding them not guilty of intentionally taking the banned substance nandrolone.

Lara said it was important for Pakistan and world cricket that the issue was closed. ''I think this is good for Pakistan cricket and also for next year's World Cup,'' he said.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said he would not like to see Akhtar and Asif rushed back into international cricket.

''I think realistically they will be with us on the tour to South Africa in January. They should be allowed to play some domestic cricket to get back into the swing of things,'' he said.

Akhtar and Asif last played in England in August.

REUTERS PDS RAI1911