Doping case: ICC extends deadline for Yasir clarification

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has extended the deadline for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to prepare a detailed report in the Yasir Shah dope case.
The extension will facilitate the PCB in submitting their findings by 9 pm on January 4.
Pakistan’s ace leg-spinner was provisionally suspended by the ICC on December 27 for failing a dope test.“Shah has been charged with an anti-doping rule violation on a sample he provided in an in-competition test,” an ICC statement announced.
“The test, conducted on 13 November 2015, was found to contain the presence of chlortalidone, a Prohibited Substance which appears in Section 5 of the World Anti-Doping Agency list (in the category of Specified Substances),” it added.According to a source in the PCB, Pakistan has sought more details from the ICC after the submission of the dope test report and notice of charge.The chairman of the PCB Executive Committee, Najam Sethi confirmed that a comprehensive report of Shah’s case would be submitted to the ICC.
“We are trying our best to protect Shah from a long ban,” said Sethi while talking to the media in Karachi.“PCB will back Yasir Shah in these difficult times,” he added.
The 29-year-old leggie emerged as a match-winner for Pakistan after Saeed Ajmal’s was reported was an illegal bowling.
Shah took 12 wickets in Pakistan’s 2-0 win against Australia last year before playing a key role in this year’s 2-1 Test series win in Sri Lanka with 24 wickets.
A day before he was tested (November 12) Shah had fallen down while bowling in the nets in his follow through and had to miss the first Test against England in Abu Dhabi with a back problem.He returned for the second and third Tests, taking 15 wickets to help Pakistan beat England 2-0.Shah has been the mainstay for Pakistan’s bowling line-up in Test matches since his debut in October 2014.
He has 76 Test scalps in 12 Tests for his country and holds the record for being the fastest Pakistani bowler to reach the 50-wicket mark.The Swabi-born leggie also impressed leg-spin great Shane Warne, who recently said the Pakistani bowler “probably the best leg-spinner in the world”.