The International Cricket Council Monday backed the World Anti-Doping Agency's decision to appeal against the lifting of doping bans on Pakistani pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which deals with doping cases in international sports, on Friday announced it would challenge the overturning of the bans in the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne, Switzerland. "WADA wishes to appeal against the decision reached by the PCB appeal committee. The ICC acknowledges this position and, at the same time, reiterates its commitment to the WADA Code," ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in a statement. Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year in November after both tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in tests conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Both players won their appeals against the judgment and their bans were overturned by a committee headed by a retired judge earlier this month on the grounds that they had not been fully educated about doping matters. Speed defended the ICC's decision not challenge Pakistan's ban U-turn, after WADA's chief Dick Pound criticised the world cricket body for indecision over the matter. "Our lawyers have examined the finding of the PCB appeal committee and do not believe the ICC has a right of appeal but we will cooperate with WADA and provide it with any assistance it requires," Speed said. Pakistan's cricket chief insists the doping row is over and selectors on Monday recalled Akhtar, 31, and Asif, 23, for the preliminary squad for next month's tour of South Africa. The ICC was still taking the matter seriously, Speed said. "We have shown our commitment to the cause by signing the WADA Code this year and we will continue to show that commitment in the future," he said. The ICC will extend the scope of its testing to include the warm-up period for next year's World Cup.

Copyright © 2003-2008 CricketArchive