Rehman, Arafat named as replacements for Shoaib and Asif
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board Monday nominated Yasir Arafat and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman as replacements for pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif, who have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, in the Champions Trophy squad.

The PCB took the decision at an emergency meeting held during the day after the shocking news of the two pacers testing positive for banned steroids came out in the open.

Pakistan is scheduled to play Sri lanka in their ICC Champions Trophy super eight opener in Jaipur Tuesday.

Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif returned to Lahore on Monday from the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy tournament in India after failing a doping test.

The two players arrived into the international airport in this eastern Pakistani city on a flight number PK271 from India.

Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have been recalled from Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs on Monday.

Pakistan team facing a crisis before their first match of the ICC Champions in the northwestern Indian city of Jaipur. The pair was called back from the tournament after coming up positive in an internal PCB test.

Dr. Suhail Aslam of the PCB medical commission had sent samples to Malaysia after conducting dope test of the team players.

According to the report both Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have used contraband drugs. Another fast bowler Rana Naved was also suspected in the doping test report.

Meanwhile, ICC said that any decision about replacements of these players can be made when the PCB will came into touch with the cricket’s governing body. However, PCB has decided to send Yasir Arafat and Abdul Rehman to India as replacement for both the players.●