Kabuki Theater

In November 2006, just before the Champions Trophy, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif submitted themselves for a voluntary drug test and promptly got busted for using Nandrolone. Akhtar was banned for 2 years while Asif was banned for 1 year. They appealed to the PCB and PCB overturned the ban citing that they had taken Nandrolone unknowingly.

Fast forward to the time when World Cup team selections are being announced. After the fiasco with overturning Akhtar's and Asif's ban, the ICC states that they would "randomly" test players for steroids in the World Cup. This leads to a trip to London for Asif and Akhtar ostensibly to recover from their injuries but allegedly for a private drug test (to see if Nandrolone is still in their system).

Meanwhile, Pakistan includes Akhtar and Asif in the 15 man squad to the World Cup but states that all 15 players would be tested for drugs and failure to pass to the drug test would result in their DEATH...no, we jest...expulsion from the team.

In the meantime, every Haydos, Symo, and Border shoot their mouth off about how cheats are ruining the game. All the other 13 players in the Pakistan squad are tested for drugs and they pass with flying colors. Spontaneous celebrations erupt all over Pakistan but Inzi's heart is heavy with sorrow. Inzi decides that prompt action is required and issues a statement saying that Akhtar and Asif would be fit to play in the World Cup. The very next day, PCB realizing that there is strength in unity promptly undermines Inzi by stating that Akhtar and Asif are out of the World Cup because of their injuries.

PCB also says that the two players did not seek a private drug test and that the real reason for their opting out of the tournament was their injury. Furthermore, PCB asks for ICC technical committee's permission to substitute Akhtar and Asif with Mohammed Sami and Yasir Arafat.

The ICC technical committee asks for Akhtar's and Asif's medical injury reports to determine if Sami and Arafat could be substituted. That's the situation for now.

Who are we kidding here? The technical committee will allow Pakistan to include Sami and Arafat. Otherwise, Pakistan will be in the Windies with a squad of 13. That's not going to happen. After a little of chest beating, all concerned parties will back down and it will be business as usual.

Thus Spake Haydos

We were initially very happy when we saw that Hayden had something to say about Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif. We were sure that he was going to put his big foot in his big mouth. Unfortunately, he still seems to be taking his pain medication for his broken toe because he sounded surprisingly sane.

It's probably unfair to say that Hayden and Symonds lashed out because Shane Warne had to sit out after getting busted for illegal drug use while Shoaib and Aisf got away scot free. So we will just go ahead and say it.

Leaving aside the aussie habit of whining when somebody other than them escapes punishment, Hayden has a point. We are all for due legal process. But when the PCB decides to lift the ban from Shoaib and Asif on a technicality after they were tested positive for illegal drugs, what is the guarantee that due legal process will be followed after the latest drug tests?

The latest news is that Shoaib and Asif will be in the team if they are medically fit. What about the dope test? They have to go through that too, so says the PCB. If others are sceptical about PCB cleaning it's own house, who can blame them? The real question here is: What will the ICC do if Shoaib and Asif are tested positive again?