Gulf experts to conduct ICC dope tests in India

Jaipur: "Medical practitioners from the Gulf states and Yemen who now will be conducting the anti-doping programme of the ICC tournament," disclosed Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, here in Jaipur.

"The doping test will be carried out randomly at seven matches with four players, two each from each side being tested."

To date only five cricket playing nations have internal anti doping procedures in operation.

India does not have the facilities for such tests. However, there are plans to create such a facility soon.

Meanwhile, the news from Pakistan Cricket Board is that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif will have to wait till the tribunal set up by the PCB completes its investigation to know about their fate.

Once again PCB has come in for heavy criticism over conducting the tests very late and announcing the results just the day before their first match of the Champions trophy.

It seems Pakistan team coach Bob Woolmer had been repeatedly requesting to conduct the tests from June onwards. Saleem Altaf, the PCB cricket operations manager, does not like Woolmer and has a habit of turning down any suggestion given by the coach. Woolmer used to get things done through Shaharyar Khan, the former PCB chairman. According to information, Pakistan had instituted an anti-doping programme in 2000, but has been inactive since then.

After they conducted tests on the players in 2003 before the World cup, the PCB has done nothing to boost their anti-doping programme.