Ahmed Shehzad was provisionally suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board after issuing him a notice on Thursday for failing a dope test at a domestic tournament in April-May. Traces of marijuana were found in his urine sample taken in May during the Pakistan Cup in Faisalabad.
The PCB said in a statement that Shehzad had been given until July 18 to advise them whether he wishes to have his sample B tested by July 27. The PCB had also asked the Anti-Doping Agency of Pakistan to constitute an Independent Review Board and give their finding on whether a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption existed and whether there had been a departure from international standards of testing.
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“Independent Review Board Report on doping case has been received by PCB. Cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has tested positive for a banned substance. PCB will issue charge sheet today,” the governing body said on its verified Twitter account.
Section 8.1 of the PCB’s Anti-Doping Regulations, which deals with offences including anabolic agents; peptide hormones, mimetics and analogues; a prohibited method; refusal to provide a sample; or trafficking, can get Shehzad banned for a minimum of two years.
This is not the first time the 26 year old has made headlines for wrong reasons. After Pakistan’s dreadful 2016 World T20 campaign, PCB dropped him and Umar Akmal from the national side and pushed them to take the long route through domestic performance to regain their spots due to their disciplinary issues. This was done on the recommendation of coach Waqar Younis.
Ahmed Shehzad has struggled to cement his place in the Pakistan squad in recent years but featured in the two-match Twenty20 series at Scotland in June. He scored 38 runs in the series as Sarfraz’s side produced commanding victories in both the outings.