Pakistan pull out duo after ICC hardens doping stand

DUBAI - THE International Cricket Council (ICC) will step up its battle against doping by testing individual players at the World Cup, starting on March 13.

It follows the 'embarrassment' caused by Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who played for Pakistan a few months after testing positive for nandrolone.

The ICC's chief executive Malcolm Speed said yesterday: 'We want to make absolutely sure the players are free from banned substances.'

The Pakistani fast bowlers tested positive last September. But they had their lengthy doping bans quashed on appeal by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in December, after they claimed they took the banned substance unknowingly.

Seven hours after the ICC made it clear that players suspected of taking drugs would be singled out in the West Indies, where the World Cup is being held, both men were withdrawn from the Pakistan squad.

The PCB insisted the duo were injured.

Said Speed: 'These target-tests will be in addition to the ICC's commitment to randomly test four players - two from each side - in 17 of the tournament's 51 matches.

'Shoaib and Asif have played for Pakistan over the past few months despite testing positive for prohibited substances last year.

'That is a fact neither player has disputed. It has caused the game a high level of embarrassment.'

The PCB said that Akhtar is suffering from knee and hamstring problems and Asif has an elbow injury.

They were replaced by Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami.

The team are still reeling from the loss of all-rounder Abdul Razzaq to a knee injury.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE