Tipped-off on Shoaib, IPL to conduct dope test

TROUBLE CALLING: Pakistani newspaper has reported that syringes were found in Shoaib Akhtar's bag.

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New Delhi: Troubles never seem to end for Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar. A Pakistani newspaper The Nation has reported that a large number of syringes were found in cricketer Shoaib Akhtar's bag at the Karachi airport while he was heading to India.

Shoaib reportedly argued that he is a diabetic and needs the syringes to inject himself with insulin.

However, when a senior official of the board was asked about the incident, he said it was no big deal as the syringes were empty and contained no substances.

Shafqat Naghmi, chief operating officer also showed ignorance over the medical history of Shoaib saying he would have to check up to find out if the fast bowler was a diabetic.

But he made it clear that Shoaib had gone to India to play in the IPL and currently he was under the preview of the IPL rules and regulations.

"I don't think it is a big deal. The syringes were empty and first we have to confirm if the report has got all the facts right. There is no question of the PCB contemplating any action against Shoaib," he said.

Meanwhile, the PCB sources have denied any knowledge of that incident. They say "We have no information about the recovery of syringes from Shoaib. His dope test is IPL's internal matter. We have no official communication regarding the same.”

However, the IPL chief Lalit Modi has announced random dope tests for all teams starting on Saturday.

"The reports of the syringes are totally wrong and just rumours. But suprise dope tests will begin tomorrow," Modi said on Friday.

There are two IPL matches on Saturday. One in Jaipur and the other in Mohali. And in both places there could be random dope testing.

In 2006, Akhtar, along with teammate Mohammad Asif, had tested positive for stamina building banned steroid Nandrolone before the Champions Trophy in India.

Earlier he was banned for five years for speaking against the PCB. The ban was imposed on the recommendations of the PCB disciplinary committee and that the bowler had the right to lodge an appeal.

(With agency inputs)