Ahmed Shehzad formally charged after failing dope test

By
Faizan Lakhani
|

KARACHI: Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad has been suspended and charged by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after an independent review confirmed that he tested positive for a banned substance.

The cricketer has until July 27 to respond to the charge sheet, while he has until July 18 to decide if he wants to give a B sample test or not. 

Earlier the PCB had tweeted that it will issue a charge sheet to the opener after Shehzad tested positive for a banned substance. 

The tests reports had been sent to India for a re-check which had caused a delay.

“Pakistan government’s anti-doping agency review board wanted to be very careful and double check because a senior player was involved, hence it asked an Indian lab to re-check tests,” a PCB had source said.

The PCB last month confirmed, without naming anyone, that a player had failed the dope test conducted during a domestic tournament.

“A player has reportedly tested positive for a prohibited substance. But under ICC rules PCB cannot name the player or charge-sheet him until the chemical report is CONFIRMED by the Anti-Dope Agency of the government. We should have an answer in a day or two,” PCB had tweeted on June 20.

Shehzad, 26, has struggled to nail down a place in the Pakistan squad in recent years but played in the two-match T20 series at Scotland in June, where he scored a combined 38 runs as the visitors recorded commanding victories.