DHAKA – Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal were some of the first players to be taken for random dope testing ahead of the World Cup, a source said on Thursday. Akhtar, 35, and Akmal, 29, were tested after a practice session on Wednesday by the International Cricket Council’s drug inspectors, the source said. “It’s normal to test players before and during a tournament,” he said.
“Nothing fishy about it. Others will also be tested.” Akhtar, recalled for the World Cup after being out of action for a major part of the last three years due to a spate of injuries, tested positive for a banned drug nandrolone in 2006. Pakistan face England in a practice match in the Bangladeshi town of Fatullah on Friday, a game the ageing Akhtar needs to perform in to make the team for their World Cup opener against Kenya on February 23.
Akhtar did not bowl against Bangladesh on Tuesday with coach Waqar Younis admitting the fast bowler had yet to regain full fitness. Akhtar, who last played a Test match in 2007, has claimed 244 one-day wickets in 160 matches at an average of 24.78. He was picked for the recent tour of New Zealand where he “improved in patches,” according to Waqar.
“Shoaib is not in touch at the moment,” the fast bowling great said. “It is important he gets into full throttle before we get him into the side.” Pakistan’s mercurial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was among three team-mates who were taken for random dope testing ahead of the World Cup, a official confirmed on Thursday. Akhtar, 35, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, 29, and seamer Umar Gul, 26, were tested after a practice session on Wednesday by the International Cricket Council’s drug inspectors, team manager Intikhab Alam told AFP.
“These are normal procedures and players from every team will be tested,” Alam said. Akhtar, recalled for the World Cup after being out of action for a major part of the last three years due to a spate of injuries, tested positive for a banned drug nandrolone in 2006. There was further trouble for Akhtar after he and fellow paceman Wahab Riaz were fined 3,000 Bangladeshi taka (42 dollars) each for returning late from a private dinner on Wednesday night.
“We want players to follow team rules,” said Alam. “The two have been warned not to keep late nights in future.” Pakistan face England in a practice match in the Bangladeshi town of Fatullah on Friday, a game the ageing Akhtar needs to perform in to make the team for their World Cup opener against Kenya on February 23. Akhtar did not bowl against Bangladesh on Tuesday with coach Waqar Younis admitting the fast bowler had yet to regain full fitness.
Akhtar, who last played a Test match in 2007, has claimed 244 one-day wickets in 160 matches at an average of 24.78. He was picked for the recent tour of New Zealand where he “improved in patches,” according to Waqar. “Shoaib is not in touch at the moment,” the fast bowling great said. “It is important he gets into full throttle before we get him into the side.” Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi have been the side’s leading batsmen since December 2009.
Afridi scored two centuries in the Asia Cup, including a superb 109 off 76 balls in a defeat against Sri Lanka; Saeed Ajmal (17 wickets) and Afridi (19) have been the best bowlers in that period. Umar Gul was in superb form last summer in England, picking up 12 wickets in the five matches, and is by far Pakistan’s best limited-overs pace bowler.
