I'm innocent, says Akhtar by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter

---

Player:

Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif

---

DateLine: 18th October 2006

 

Pakistan's tearaway fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said he's no cheat. Along with fellow quickie Mohammed Asif, Akhtar was sent home after their positive dope tests.

 

"I cannot say much at this time about what has happened but I just want to assure everyone that I am innocent of doing anything I shouldn't have," he said in his diary on the Bigstarcricket.com website.

 

Akhtar said Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, the patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), had asked him not to make any detailed comments on the matter and he wanted to respect his wishes.

 

"All I can say is that I have not knowingly taken any performance enhancing drugs and would never cheat my team-mates or opponents in this way," said Akhtar in the diary.

 

"I have always played the game fair and I give 100 per cent and do not feel that I need to take drugs to help my bowling. I am gutted to be missing the Champions Trophy and I will return to Pakistan to see what has happened and what needs to be done. That's all I have to say for now."

 

Akhtar's personal doctor has also attested the bowler's innocence. He added that Akhtar would have tested positive because of a medicine he took to recover from injury.

 

Pakistan have no current system for doping offences but will set up a tribunal to decide how to punish Akhtar and Asif, PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters on Monday.