Cricket: Banned Pakistani bowlers may get reprieve

RAWALPINDI - A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal will announce on Tuesday its decision on appeals by pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif against their doping bans.

A PCB-appointed drugs inquiry tribunal banned Shoaib for two years and Asif for one after they tested positive for the steroid nandrolone. If the bans are upheld both players will miss next year's World Cup.

"The head of the tribunal Justice Fakhruddin G Ebrahim has informed us he will be announcing the verdict on Tuesday," a PCB spokesman said.

A PCB source said the fact that the board had taken three weeks to reach a decision indicated the players might get some reprieve.

"The indications are there that Shoaib and Asif might have their bans reduced to an extent and some fines imposed on them," the source told Reuters.

- REUTERS