Failed tests bad for cricket

Mohammad Asif tested positive for nandrolone © Getty Images

England captain Michael Vaughan has described the drugs revelations which have rocked the ICC Trophy as “bad for the game”.

The Yorkshire batsman, currently recovering from an operation on his left knee, was as surprised as the rest of the cricket world after hearing Pakistan bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif had been sent home from the tournament in India after failing drugs tests.

The pair tested positive for nandrolone and were sent home immediately by the Pakistan Cricket Board who performed the drugs tests prior to their squad's departure for the tournament.

The revelations follow the unseemly scenes during the final Test at The Brit Oval which resulted in Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq being banned for four matches for bringing the game into disrepute.

Vaughan, who is hoping to recover from his rehabilitation by the new year, admitted: “The last two months have been bad for the game.

“It's not a great day for cricket when anything like that gets reported and I'm sure the media will be talking about this for days to come.

“It's the first time I've ever heard of performance-enhancing drugs in cricket - it's usually recreational drugs, and in my career I've only heard of that happening a couple of times.”

The PCB are waiting for the 'B' sample from both players before making a decision on any further action and Vaughan added: “I'm sure it's not going to be a good week for cricket.”