Karachi: The PCB has confirmed that opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad is the player who tested positive in a recent dope test. Shehzad has been issued a notice of charge. The issuance of the notice comes over two months after the test but Shehzad now has 14 days to respond.
Shehzad originally underwent a random dope test in Faisalabad during the 50-over Pakistan Cup in the last week of April, but news of a positive test emerged through media reports on June 20. The PCB tweeted confirmation of the failed test but said, according to ICC rules, it could not name the player until the result was backed up by Pakistan’s anti-doping agency. The original finding, from the WADA-accredited lab in India, had reached the PCB in early June.
Although there has been no specific reason given for the delay, a PCB official previously told ESPNcricinfo that the review board of the government’s anti-doping agency was doing a thorough check of the lab results.
Once he has received the notice, Shehzad stands provisionally suspended and cannot play – or be involved in any capacity – in international matches, and games organised by any national cricket board or its affiliated members. He had already been dropped from the ongoing Zimbabwe tour, and his domestic team HBL is also considering stripping him of the captaincy.
Shehzad can request for his B sample (taken at the time as his A sample) to be tested, and if that test does not confirm a positive result then his suspension would be lifted with immediate effect. He can also request for a hearing before an anti-doping tribunal through a written application that must be received by the anti-doping manager within 14 days.
