Mark Planamente
NormPositive Pakistanis Not What Trophy Needed
October 17th 2006 11:35
First of all, I realise that it has been a long break between drinks, and for all you sporting minds out there that have been waiting for the next instalment, I am sorry for such a delay. But now we have a new format, and more importantly with such a sports packed summer ahead of us, a new determination with the site, to accurately and objectively cover all the best sports that hit our shores and abroad, now guaranteed six days a week.
With that out of the way, lets look at the major issue that has arisen from the recent started ICC Champions Trophy. As Pakistan were preparing for their first match against Sri Lanka, they had to face up to yet another scandal as their two best fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, were being sent home after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that both players tested positive in two internal tests, and now the bowling pair face a ban up to two years if their test results confirm that they have taken the anabolic steroid.
With such a massive schedule in front of all the major cricketing nations, (as the Champions Trophy and the Word Cup are within a year of each other), many players will ultimately feel the pinch as they constantly go up against the best in the world. However for both players to allegedly take a banned drug when it was going to be such a strictly enforced ‘clean’ tournament must have been a major brain snap.
It no one can say if, or how long, this has been happening. The PCB’s new chairman was only appointed this month, and so this could be the first time in a while that the Board are in fact serious about stamping out drug use within their side. By taking such a harsh stance on both players, one of them who was considered the x-factor in their status this tournament, means that the new chairman Nasim Ashraf could be trying to carve his side into once more being one of the best around the globe.
However, what Pakistan have to do now is focus on the Trophy at hand, as they have serious contenders in their group with South Africa, Sri Lanka and the revamped New Zealand, they will need to seriously focus to get anywhere close to the second round. And now with their two best fast bowlers out, they will be looking a causing a miracle to get anywhere within the Champions Trophy.
Until next time, sports minds.
With that out of the way, lets look at the major issue that has arisen from the recent started ICC Champions Trophy. As Pakistan were preparing for their first match against Sri Lanka, they had to face up to yet another scandal as their two best fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, were being sent home after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that both players tested positive in two internal tests, and now the bowling pair face a ban up to two years if their test results confirm that they have taken the anabolic steroid.
With such a massive schedule in front of all the major cricketing nations, (as the Champions Trophy and the Word Cup are within a year of each other), many players will ultimately feel the pinch as they constantly go up against the best in the world. However for both players to allegedly take a banned drug when it was going to be such a strictly enforced ‘clean’ tournament must have been a major brain snap.
It no one can say if, or how long, this has been happening. The PCB’s new chairman was only appointed this month, and so this could be the first time in a while that the Board are in fact serious about stamping out drug use within their side. By taking such a harsh stance on both players, one of them who was considered the x-factor in their status this tournament, means that the new chairman Nasim Ashraf could be trying to carve his side into once more being one of the best around the globe.
However, what Pakistan have to do now is focus on the Trophy at hand, as they have serious contenders in their group with South Africa, Sri Lanka and the revamped New Zealand, they will need to seriously focus to get anywhere close to the second round. And now with their two best fast bowlers out, they will be looking a causing a miracle to get anywhere within the Champions Trophy.
Until next time, sports minds.
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