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LAHORE - Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif will return to action in a Twenty20 Cup domestic tournament this month after being cleared of doping charges, an official said yesterday.
The duo had their long-term bans set aside last week by a Pakistan Cricket Board appeals tribunal.
"Both have been cleared by the board to resume playing domestic cricket. They have shown willingness to play in the Twenty20 tournament which starts from December 21," said Saqib Irfan, a board official.
The bowlers were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India in October after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in an out-of-competition test.
Shoaib and Asif were subsequently banned for two years and one year respectively by another drugs inquiry commission early last month before successfully appealing against the decision.
The panel said neither player had intentionally taken the banned substance. They were not properly advised about their supplements intake.
Pakistan selectors said both will be considered for the tour of South Africa early next year only after they have proved their match fitness and form in domestic cricket.
Irfan said all the leading players in contention for the South Africa tour, including captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, had confirmed they would represent their teams in the regional Twenty20 competition in Karachi.
- REUTERS
