The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has decided to take up the issue of lifting the doping bans on Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif with the International Cricket Council, saying the ruling was "unreasonable" and a possible violation of its code.
"We have decided to take up the matter with the ICC. My personal view is that the decision taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) panel is unreasonable," WADA official Fredevic Donze said.
The WADA official also said the appeals commission's decision appeared to be a violation of the international anti-doping code.
Shoaib and Asif were withdrawan from the Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad after they tested positive for banned steroid nandrolone in an out of competition dopes tests conducted by the PCB and banned them for two and one year respectively on November 1.
But the duo appealed against the decision and a tribunal, headed by a former judge, cleared both players of doping offences and lifted their bans after finding them not guilty of taking the banned substance intentionally.
Donze, however, said WADA would first look into the decision of the tribunal before making further comments and the agency had asked its representative in Pakistan to obtain copies of the judgement by the appeals tribunal.
{{/usCountry}}Donze, however, said WADA would first look into the decision of the tribunal before making further comments and the agency had asked its representative in Pakistan to obtain copies of the judgement by the appeals tribunal.
{{/usCountry}}PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf is scheduled to attend an ICC Executive Board meeting in Dubai this week and may face a strong reaction from the other member countries, it said.