DubaiPakistans 29-year-old Swabi-born leg spinner Yasir Shah, who took nine Test matches to grab the No. 9 spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ranking for top 10 Test bowlers has been charged with an anti-doping rule violation under the ICC Anti-Doping Code, and suspended on Sunday.
Shah has seven days to decide whether to request a test on a second urine sample, and another seven days after that (14 from the day of suspension) to decide whether to plead guilty, has appeared before a medical panel tasked with determining why he failed a dope test.
Pursuant to receipt of the notice of charge issued by ICC to Shah, PCB will examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged charge and shall fully assist the ICC in arriving at a fair and just outcome, a statement by the Pakistan Cricket Board said.
PCB has a zero tolerance policy towards the use of prohibited substances in cricket and has in place a strict regime which monitors and regularly imparts education relating to the ICC anti-doping code, it added.
The world’s No.3 ranked Test bowler, Shah could face a possible ban of two to four years has been provisionally suspended and charged by the International Cricket Council after he tested positive to a banned substance.
The ICC announced that a sample provided by Yasir on November 13 was found to contain the presence of chlortalidone, which appears on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list.
Chlortalidone is a diuretic that treats high blood pressure and is banned as it can be used as a masking agent. The ICC confirmed the news in a short statement on Sunday, saying Shah has been provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the disciplinary process.
Shah has taken 76 wickets in just 12 Tests since he debuted against Australia in October, 2014.
Shah holds the record for being the fastest Pakistani bowler to reach the 50-wicket mark has also impressed leg-spin great Shane Warne, who recently declared him as probably the best leg-spinner in the world.
Sad to hear about Yasir Shah’s suspension. My prayers are with him as he’s asset for country, hope to see him back on the field soon. Shahid Afridi tweeted.
According to the ICC’s Anti-Doping Code, players face a ban of up to four years if they “establish that the anti-doping rule violation was intentional”. A ban can be reduced to two years if it’s deemed that the violation was not intentional.
In 2006, Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were tested positive for a performance-enhancing banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.
Akhtar was banned for two years while Asif was handed a one-year ban but both of them were acquitted by a review committee after an appeal.
Left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman was banned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (EWCB), under its anti-doping rules for 12 weeks after tested positive for the recreational drug cannabis during his stint with Somerset in county.
In May this year, Pakistan left-arm spinner Raza Hasan was suspended for two years after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera is currently awaiting a disciplinary process of his own after he tested positive to a banned substance in October.
Amid unending stream of controversies, Pakistan are scheduled to play three T20s and three ODIs in New Zealand next month.
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