LAHORE, May 25: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to carry out a dope test on controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar before the Asia Cup amidst rumours of the appellate tribunal exonerating him from the five-year ban imposed on him by the board.

Dawn learnt through reliable sources that the decision was taken after the matter was discussed at a PCB in-house meeting following a news item in the local press about the bowler carrying several syringes while travelling to India to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Indian Premier League.

The PCB disciplinary committee, headed by Munir Hafeez, had earlier slapped a five-year ban on Shoaib who is allegedly involved in criticising PCB’s policies in public, despite already being under the threat of a life-ban.

In reply, Shoaib had filed an appeal against the ban for which the PCB appointed the tribunal headed by retired Justice Aftab Farrukh with former Test spinner Haseeb Ahsan and Salman Taseer (now governor Punjab) as the members. The tribunal had deferred the proceedings till June 8 in order to allow Shoaib to play in the IPL.

Sources said that while the PCB is upset over the bowler’s on and off field conduct, the majority at the tribunal are in favour of his acquittal on the basis of Shoaib’s apologising to the nation as well as the PCB chairman. Sources said Salman Taseer’s decision of not quitting the tribunal as yet, despite being elevated to the position of governor Punjab is also against the PCB’s expectations.

Moreover, sources said that Muneer Hafeez’s close circles know that he too considers the five-year ban as a rather harsh punishment for the bowler, something for which he has come under severe criticism.

Shoaib’s acquittal will definitely not pay any dividends to the PCB and the lone way to counter it is to keep Shoaib away from cricket for which the dope test would prove helpful.

And seeing how Shoaib too has preferred not to play in the IPL soon after the organisers stunning announcement of holding random dope tests, after the publication of the syringes news item, it sure does look like the proposal carries some weight too.

The entire situation has now inspired the PCB officials to also announce dope tests before the Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Pakistan from June 25, which was not really necessary at this stage since the tests are mandatory anyway for the ICC Champions Trophy that commences in Pakistan from Sept 10.

The PCB officials also welcomed the IPL decision of conducting random dope tests, despite the fact that it is against the practicing rules and regulations.

PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi had also said that, “the IPL’s decision of conducting dope tests is a right one and it will help to check the menace of doping”.