The International Cricket Council on Wednesday slammed the decision of Pakistani authorities to overturn the bans on pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif and asked its cricket board to "revisit" its doping regulations.
ICC President Percy Sonn said the judgement of an appellate tribunal to revoke the bans imposed hardly a month ago showed that there were "inconsistencies" in Pakistan's anti-doping process.
"The judgment highlights inconsistencies in the Pakistan Cricket Board's anti-doping processes and regulations," Sonn said in a statement.
"Cricket has taken significant strides forward in addressing the important issue of drug use in our sport. However, this judgment emphasises that much more work needs to be done to educate players and to synchronise our Members' efforts to attain a totally drug-free sport," he said.
Shoaib claimed in his deposition that he was not aware that nandrolone was a banned substance while Asif said since he had limited command of English language, he could not understand the information available on doping.
Sonn admitted that educating the players was of vital significance.
"The issue of player education is also of vital importance and the ICC will, with WADA's continued assistance, do its utmost to make it easier for our members to provide this service to their players and officials.
Sonn admitted that educating the players was of vital significance.
"The issue of player education is also of vital importance and the ICC will, with WADA's continued assistance, do its utmost to make it easier for our members to provide this service to their players and officials.
"The key fact is that it is vital for all our Members to maintain a zero tolerance on the use of drugs in our sport. That is the idea behind the ICC's drug-testing regime at all our events since 2002 and our adoption of the WADA Code in July this year," he added.
The ICC Chief said there was a lesson for other member countries to learn from the episode.
"Of primary importance is that all those Members revisit their own regulations and align them both with the ICC's Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.
"It is vital that cricket takes heed of the judgment and that the lessons it provides are disseminated amongst all our Members. I would now urge all our Members to ensure appropriate action is taken so cricket can show just how committed it is to being known as a drug-free sport," he said.