Proof that PCB doctored Akhtar, Asif dope judgement surfaces
Lahore, Dec 9 (ANI): PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf tried his best to influence both judgements, that of the Anti-Doping Commission and the PCB's Appeals Committee, in the doping case involving fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.
While he was unsuccessful in the first case, he reportedly succeeded in the latter, and got the duo freed of the doping charge.
This has been revealed in a letter signed by none other than Ashraf and addressed to the PCB's Anti-Doping Commission, headed by Barrister Shahid Hamid, with Intikhab Alam and Dr Waqar Ahmed as members. The Commission had held the two fast bowlers guilty, but the Appeals Committee lifted the bans imposed on them.
According to The Nation, Shahid Hamid confirmed that he had received the letter. It was also revealed that the PCB chairman had been directly involved in trying to subvert the due process and in swaying the judgement of first the Anti-Doping Commission without success, but finally getting his way with the Appeals Committee, added the paper.
This intervention from the highest level at the PCB allowed the spearheads of Pakistan's pace attack Akhtar and Asif to walk after the original judgement of two and one year bans was overturned, and the duo was exonerated on appeal in a split judgement - probably on 'patriotic' grounds on December 5, the paper said further.
Shahid Hamid maintains that the pressure brought to bear on him was resisted with great determination, and his Commission had arrived at its verdict in a manner most forthright. "I am positive that we made a correct appreciation of the fact and correct application of the law", the paper quoted him as saying.
Shahid Hamid admitted that he was so incensed at receiving the missive from the PCB chairman that he called Moeen Afzal, a retired federal secretary of some standing and a member of the PCB's Advisory Council, and let rip. Recounting his exact words, Shahid Hamid said that he told Afzal that the contents of the letter were "insulting, out of order and tantamount to influencing the judgement of the Commission".
Through Moeen Afzal, Shahid Hamid reportedly passed on the message to the PCB chairman "not to send any further communication till after the Commission had reached its verdict".
Shahid Hamid also told Moeen Afzal that in the circumstances he would not be talking to the PCB's imported counsel Mr Mark Gay, as Dr Nasim Ashraf wanted him to, because "we did not need his input about reaching our verdict". (ANI)
