PCB influenced Shoaib-Asif doping verdict: Report

Lahore, Dec 9 (UNI) The Shoaib Akhtar-Mohammad Asif doping saga runs into deeper controversy with a startling revelation that the current Pakistan Cricket Borad (PCB) Chairman had unsuccessfully tried to influence the Anti-Doping Commission verdict, which held the fast-bowling duo guilty of using a banned substance, but got his way in securing them exonerated by the Appellate Tribunal.

A PCB-appointed Anti-Doping Commission headed by lawyer Mr Shahid Hamid had found Shoaib and Asif guilty of having used nandrolone, a banned substance, and banished them from the game for two years and one year respectively.

But later, an Appellate Tribunal headed by a retired Judge of the Pakistan Supreme Court had exonerated the two fast bowlers of the doping charges and lifted the ban imposed on them.

Lahore-based newspaper 'The Nation' today reported that ''incontrovertible evidence, in the form of a letter signed by PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, shows that the Board attempted to influence the judgment of the Anti-Doping Commission headed by Barrister Shahid Hamid, with Intikhab Alam and Dr Waqar Ahmed as members.'' The report said the PCB chairman was not happy with the Anti-Doping Commission decision to ban Shoaib and Asi but he went along with the letter of the law at that point, hoping that he would be able to bend the Commission to his way of ''dispensing justice'' through the weight of his office.

It said Mr Hamid had confirmed to have received a signed letter from the PCB Chairman on October 28 after the Commission had been through most of its statement-recording of the accused and witnesses, cross examination and evidence-gathering and just three days before announcing its judgment.

''Further questions to Shahid Hamid and probes through other leads revealed that the PCB chairman had been directly involved in trying to subvert the due process and in swaying the judgment of first the Anti-Doping Commission without success, but finally getting his way with the Appeals Committee,'' the newspaper went on to say.

The report also quoted Mr Hamid as saying that he resisted the pressure brought to bear on him and his Commission had arrived at its verdict in a manner ''most forthright and a correct application of the law.'' Mr Hamid said he was so incensed at receiving the missive from the PCB chairman that he had told Moeen Afzal, a member of the PCB's Advisory Council, that the contents of the letter were ''insulting, out of order and tantamount to influencing the judgment of the Commission'', besides asking Afzal to pass on the message to the PCB chairman ''not to send any further communication till after the Commission had reached its verdict.'' MORE UNI XC PDS RK1250