Sami and Arafat replace tainted duo by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter

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Player:	Mohammad Sami, Yasir Arafat, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif
Event:	ICC Champions Trophy 2006/07

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DateLine: 18th October 2006

 

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday named Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat as replacements for pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif, who have been sent home from the Champions Trophy for returning positive dope tests.

 

The PCB took the decision at an emergency meeting held during the day after the devastating news of the two pacers testing positive for banned steroids. The ICC earlier said that it would consider allowing replacements for the duo if the PCB made such an appeal.

 

"The PCB needs to suspend the two players and then inform the ICC. And then the tournament technical committee will decide on whether to allow the replacements," said ICC Communications Manager Samiul Hasan. He added that the ICC appreciated the PCB's stand on the dope issue. "ICC has a strong anti-doping policy. We have a zero tolerance on such matters. We appreciate the PCB's stand," he said in Jaipur.