LAHORE, July 30: Shoaib Akhtar moved another step ahead in getting a place in the national side when he along with 25 other probables cleared the dope test, essential to be considered for selection in the squad for the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan from Sept 12.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) press release said on Tuesday: “The dope test results of 26 players conducted by the PCB through WADA-accredited doping control officers from the anti-doping organisation of Pakistan in Lahore on July 24, 2008, were found to be negative.”

It further stated: “The tests were sent to the WADA-accredited doping control centre in Penang, Malaysia.”

Shoaib’s test along with Mohammad Asif’s had come out positive two years ago at the time of the Champions Trophy in India. But the bowler has now cleared the test. The only hurdle ahead for Shoaib now is to get the selectors’ nod after proving himself fit in the trial matches to be held here from Aug 5 to 9.

A 15-member team will be selected after it, by Aug 11, the last date to submit the final squad to the ICC, for the Champions Trophy.

While Shoaib clears the mounting hurdles in his way to return to the international arena, sources told Dawn that the PCB officials are showing their reluctance to include him in the squad, which is mainly because of his controversial attitude.

However, chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said that Shoaib had to prove his match fitness in the trial matches to make the final 15 line-up.

Shoaib’s future looked bleak back in April, when the PCB’s disciplinary committee imposed a five-year ban on him for criticising PCB policies in public. But Shoaib later filed an appeal before the PCB appellate tribunal, which reduced the ban to 18 months while awarding him a cash penalty of Rs7 million. The decision was challenged by Shoaib before the Lahore High Court, which waived the entire ban, enabling the bowler to continue his playing.

Meanwhile, batsman Younis Khan, who was not available for the dope test on July 24, due to his being away on Umrah, still has to give the test along with Khurram Manzoor, Bazid Khan and Yasir Arafat who are in England at the moment.

“Younis will be tested shortly likewise the three others currently playing in England,” the press release stated.

It may be mentioned here that clearing the dope test is mandatory for every player to be selected in the squad.

The Champions Trophy probables will assemble in Lahore on Aug 3. They are also to play a Twenty20 match after their day-long practice session that day along with back-to-back 50 over trial matches on Aug 5, 7, 9.

Agencies add: The results of the dope tests must have come as a big relief for Pakistan’s cricket community which was stunned earlier this month when Asif failed a dope test conducted during the Indian Premier League. “Thankfully, all the players have cleared the dope tests,” said Shafqat Naghmi, PCB’s Chief Operating Officer.

Four players in Pakistan’s 30-man preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy including senior batsman Younis Khan missed the dope tests.

It is the first time that Shoaib has undertaken dope tests since the 2007 World Cup which he missed due to injury problems. Shoaib, 32, is working hard to get back in shape in time for the Champions Trophy. He has not played international cricket since featuring in the fourth ODI against India in Gwalior last November.