Reprieve for Akhtar and Asif likely outcome

From what I am reading, it seems like the verdict for tomorrows appeal process is likely to be in favor of the banned Pakistani bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif. Most of the media reports and rumors seem to be pointing towards a reduction of the ban. I am genuinely surprised about this and I posted an article from the rumor mill a few days ago. From cricketzone.com...

...one of the members of the appeal committee Haseeb Ahsan said he was impressed with the way the bowlers presented their argument which gave the panel a new perspective in the case.

Whatever perspective the lawyers presented must have been pretty strong and pretty unique. Though these reports say that the ban might be reduced, according to their sources, the ban will not be lifted. From thenews.com.pk...

The committee which also includes doping expert Dr Danish Zaheer has taken a longer time to decide the case than expected but Haseeb said that such important issues cannot be dealt with in a hurry. “It is a matter of national importance and we wanted to give the players a fair chance to defend themselves,” he said.

Haseeb said that “personally he has reached the conclusion that the players did not get such a fair chance” during the proceedings of the inquiry tribunal last month.

“The lawyers of the two players especially Abid Minto who is representing Shoaib Akhtar have really fought the case well and several new points were raised during the proceedings of this committee which are quite important,” said Haseeb without revealing anything more.

There is no doubt that if this ban were to be reduced, it would aid Pakistan greatly. However, I think a reduction makes the entire process a complete mockery. Why did these players not hire hotshot lawyers in the first place? Was there not enough time? If the players were not adequately represented, then who's fault is that?

The evidence and the bottom line, as far as the public understands it, is that these two players doped up. They took a banned substance, which is illegal. The ban was harsh, yet fair and it was accepted by most. Though the players have a right to an appeal, I am not sure what could be so different now that it lets them off with a lighter punishment.

If Shoaib and Asif do get a lighter sentence, then the PCB and the appeals committee better have some really good reasons for it. If we let our star bowlers off the hook on this one, the international cricketing community is not going to let this one go easily. Will they accept this second verdict? This reprieve? They will have a hard time swallowing the fact that the PCB has succumbed to public pressure and reinstated the offending players. In fact, the ICC might even have a say in this matter and conduct their own dope tests. Nothing has been set in stone yet and I am just thinking out aloud, but I just hope the people in charge are considering all options thoroughly.

Shahid Afridi finally gets dropped - What of Nazir?

Well, the PCB has finally done the needful! They have evicted Shahid Afridi from the Pakistan ODI squad against the Windies. It was a decision that should have come a long time ago.

I have never really been a big fan of Afridi. Though, I admit there was a period of about a season or two that I felt he was an integral part of the team. However ever since the Sri Lankan tour and the England tour, I felt he should have been dropped and shouldn't be a part of our teams World Cup plans. In a previous post, I present my reasons for dropping him from the ODI team. Here I explain why he should not be part of the test team. Both these posts, though a couple of months old, are quite valid as only a bit of cricket has been played since.

Some additions (2006 games only):

• 14: ODI's played in 2006
• 23: his highest score
• 8.14: his average this year (Rana, Iftikhar Anjum, Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul have a higher average)
• 114: total runs score (worst amongst all Pakistani batsmen)

Kamran Abbasi called this a "triumph of stupidity"...

This is a World Cup year. Pakistan are about to play their final home one-day series before that tournament. The campaign needs to be relaunched with a sense of optimism and an aura of positivity. Conditions in Pakistan are likely to be closer to the West Indies than conditions in South Africa will be.

Your star player, your talisman, your aggressor, your match-winner needs to rediscover his confidence. A combination of the West Indian attack and home conditions are an ideal formula to reinvigorate your champion and your campaign. The decision looks straightforward. The selectors, though, leave him out. Shahid Afridi out? The mind boggles and the logic wobbles. Nice one. Another triumph of stupidity from the men who want to be paid to do an important job badly.

It's interesting to note that the readers comments below his post surprisingly do not support him. In fact most of the people seem to think this is a good decision.

Afridi's time has come. He has played over 200 ODI matches, and as my analysis shows, his efforts do not validate his inclusion on the playing XI.

Sadly Afridi's exclusion has overshadowed Shahid Nazir's absence from this squad. Quite unfair considering how well he bowled against the West Indies. I feel bad for him, but I am glad he has shown his mettle against the Windies and the English side on the test scene. He is supposedly Pakistan best domestic cricket opening bowler, yet the PCB seem to be considering him only for the tests, and that too as just someone to fill the gaps. His 17 wickets in test cricket in 2006 came at an average of 30, which was the 2nd best average for any Pakistani bowler. I feel he should actually be on the playing XI in the first ODI.

What? Asif being exonerated of doping charges...

Found this link on Orkut...Don't know how valid it is. I do know that the appeals tribunal is set to release its verdict on Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif doping ban appeal.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is all set to exonerate Mohammad Asif from doping charges but the other tainted pacer Shoaib Akhtar is not likely to get any reprieve, claims local media.

Quoting PCB sources, a local daily claimed PCB would let off Asif, giving the youngster a benefit of doubt but chances are really bleak that temperamental Shoaib Akhtar would get the same favour.

The tribunal set up for hearing the appeals of Shoaib and Asif against their ban would announce its verdict in a day or two.

‘’However it is likely that Mohammad Asif would be absolved of all charges by giving him benefit of the doubt. While the sentence on Shoaib Akhtar of two years ban would be upheld,’ the daily said.

“According to sources, the tribunal consisting of Justice Fakhruddin, Dr Danish Zaheer and Hasib Ahsan reviewed the lawyers arguments during the appeal hearings,'’ it added.

It also claimed that the tribunal has refuted demands by Shoaib’s lawyer that the ‘’Rawalpindi Express'’ had not signed the new contract and hence dope laws were not applicable on him. PCB, however, scuttled the move by providing an old copy of Shoaib’s agreement, consisting of dope condition, which he had signed.

In contrast, Asif had neither signed any central contract or participated in any dope test awareness programme, the report claimed.