Howzzat for a clean chit?

According to the appeals tribunal set up by the PCB to look into the ?spurious matter?, both the cricketers did not know that they were ingesting the banned steroid, nandrolene.

India’s cricketers may be fidgeting in a crowded dock waiting for a verdict once the Test series in South Africa is over. Navjot Singh Sidhu should know by today the quantum of punishment the court metes out to him for culpable homicide. For the Pakistan duo, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, the waiting is over. Both pacemen have been cleared of doping charges. Unfortunately, for teams that have been chuckling about facing a blunted Pakistani bowling attack, the two- and one-year ban on Akhtar and Asif respectively have been annulled.

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According to the appeals tribunal set up by the Pakistan Cricket Board to look into the ‘spurious matter’, both the cricketers did not know that they were ingesting the banned steroid, nandrolene. In fact, according to the tribunal, it was only after Asif had told the team physiotherapist that he was taking the ‘vitamin supplements’ in August that the matter came to light — and the two cricketers were told to discontinue using the supplements.

So it was all a terrible misunderstanding, wasn’t it? Just as well that President Pervez Musharraf showed interest in the matter and advised Akhtar to remain quiet about the whole affair — until it was sorted out. As for those who may have lost their wickets to deliveries bowled by an enhanced Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, tough luck.