Pakistan conducts dope tests

Pakistan on Friday began the process of dope testing their players in Lahore ahead of their World Cup squad's departure to the Caribbean on March 1.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said that 13 of the 20 players in the World Cup pool were tested in Lahore on Friday while most of the remaining players would go through dope tests in Karachi today.

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who along with fellow pacer Mohammad Asif failed a dope test last October, would be tested in Lahore following his arrival from England today.

The dope test of all-rounder Shahid Afridi would be carried out early next week as the player has gone abroad to feature in a charity game.

Next week, the test samples would be sent to a laboratory in Malaysia accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

It is the same laboratory where Shoaib and Asif tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone ahead of last fall's International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy in India.

Shoaib and Asif have both been included in Pakistan's 15-man squad for the World Cup subject to fitness and passing the dope test.