Dope tests conducted on Afridi, Malik

Johannesburg, Sep.29 (ANI): Pakistan all rounders Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik underwent regular dope tests here.

This was the second such test conducted on Malik in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, The News reports.

Earlier, similar tests were also conducted on tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif.

It may be noted that Asif had tested positive for nandrolone twice before.

The Pakistani team is still undecided whether to give Asif a chance or not in the eight nation tournament.

While both coach Intikhab Alam and captain Younis Khan have already clarified that they are not expecting wonders from Asif, who was once even compared with Australian great Glenn McGrath, it would be interesting to see whether the team management risks playing a bowler coming out of a ban.

"He is coming back after one year and it's not an easy thing to do. We don't expect him to take five or six wickets the moment he plays international cricket, it's not fair," Khan had said before leaving for South Africa.

Asif was banned from international cricket for one year after failing a dope test. His career had plummeted after he failed a dope test during the Indian Premier League's (IPL) inaugural season.

He was also detained at the Dubai airport for 19 days for carrying an illegal substance (opium) while returning from India.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had also slapped a fine of one million rupees on Asif for his Dubai 'misadventure'. (ANI)