Ahmed Shehzad to be charged by PCB after failing dope test

Ahmed Shehzad tested positive:

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad has tested positive for a banned substance and he would be charged later on Tuesday.

PCB had announced in June that a player had tested positive for a banned substance but it refused to reveal the name of the player or the charges that they faced until the chemical report was completed, according to the ICC (International Cricket Council) regulations.

“PCB has received an Independent Review Board Report on doping case. Player Ahmed Shehzad has failed the dope test. PCB will be issuing a charge sheet today,” the board said in its Twitter handle.

Pakistan journalist Zainab Abbas had earlier Tweeted in June that the cricketer was tested positive for consuming Marijuana.

The  26-year old has struggled to nail down a place in the Pakistan squad in recent years but he had played in the two-match Twenty20 series at Scotland in June, where he scored a combined 38 runs as Pakistan recorded commanding victories.

Many other players have been banned in the past:

In February 2016, the International Cricket Council had banned Pakistan’s leg-spinner Yasir Shah for three months after he had failed a dope test.

Pakistan cricketers including Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Asif, Reza Hasan and Abdul Rehman have also tested positive in dope tests in the past.

Shehzad had undergone a random dope test during the 50-over Pakistan Cup in April, but news of a positive test had emerged in June.

Once Shehzad receives the notice, he would provisionally be suspended and he would not play- or be involved in any capacity – in the games organized by any national cricket board or its affiliated members.

The road ahead for Shehzad:

Shehzad was already dropped from ongoing Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe.

Shehzad can now request for his B sample and his suspension would be lifted with immediate effect if the sample does not test positive.

Shehzad is also entitled to request for a hearing before an anti-doping tribunal.

He can submit his written application to the anti-doping manager within 14 days.