The Hindu : Sport : A huge test of character for Pakistan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2006
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A huge test of character for Pakistan

The timing of disclosure of the test is a killer as far as the Pakistanis are concerned, writes Imran Khan

The present doping scandal involving Mohammed Asif and Shoaib Akhtar could not have come at a worse time. I understand that they have both tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, though the circumstances under which they took that drug are still unclear. They are both coming back from injury and there are no details about when, where and how their samples were taken.

As things stand, my first worry is the impact the scandal will have on the Pakistan team, which plays its first game of the Champions Trophy on Tuesday against Sri Lanka.

Asif and Akhtar would have been the spearheads for this tournament, and it's now going to be a race against time to send in the replacements before Tuesday's game.

Surprising

I am also really surprised to hear about these tests, which have apparently been conducted by the PCB itself. In fact, I am rendered speechless by the timing of the disclosure — it's a killer as far as the Pakistanis are concerned. I cannot understand why the results have been announced now rather than before the tournament. The team would have had time to assimilate the news and get past it. The replacements too would have had time to fly in, get acclimatised and be ready.

As of now, the Pakistan team must be in a state of shock, and with a game just 24 hours away, it must be wondering what to do next. It will almost certainly have to choose the team from just the 12 available players. Tuesday's game will therefore be a huge test of character for the team. It has just emerged from one controversy, and to land in another one is absolutely unfortunate.

Career-threatening

As far as Asif and Akhtar are concerned, I really do not know what to say. The details are still emerging, and I would not like to comment on either of them until the dust settles. Going by the precedent set by Shane Warne, there is a distinct possibility that there is going to be a similar punishment in store for the two pacers. That might be career- threatening as far as Akhtar is concerned because he is at the stage of his career where a year's break is most damaging, particularly for a pace bowler.

Younis Khan will have to dig deep and tell the team to put everything behind them. It was bad enough that Pakistan was without Inzamam-ul-Haq, its crisis man and best batsman. Now its bowling too is depleted under stormy circumstances thanks to this scandal. Pakistan faces a very strong and in-form Sri Lanka team, and it will take a great deal of mental strength for the team to do well.

Gameplan

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