Pakistan ace Yasir Shah suspended over doping

PAKISTAN’S leg-spinner Yasir Shah was provisionally suspended yesterday for failing a dope test by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“Shah has been charged with an antidoping rule violation on a sample he provided in an in-competition test,” an ICC statement announced.

“The test, conducted on November 13 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].

“In accordance with the ICC Anti-Doping Code, pending the outcome of the disciplinary process, Yasir has been provisionally suspended,” the ICC said.

The 29-year-old has emerged as a matchwinner for Pakistan since ace spinner Saeed Ajmal’s action was reported and he subsequently lost his wickettaking ability with a remodelled action.

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 as Pakistan beat England 2-0.

Shah has so far taken 76 wickets in 12 Tests and became the fastest to complete 50 wickets in nine tests – a record for Pakistan.

He has also played 15 one-day internationals and two Twenty20s after making his debut in 2011.

The latest

doping

issue came after Sri Lankan wicketkeeperbatsman Kusal Prera tested positive for a banned substance earlier this month.

Prera faces a lengthy ban from international cricket with his B sample understood to have also tested positive.

Prera had to be withdrawn from Sri Lanka’s tour to New Zealand. — AFP