Drugs bans set precedent

Mohammad Asif has been banned for a year after testing positive © Getty Images

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has backed the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to hand out suspensions to pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif after they tested positive for nandrolone.

Sutherland believes the message sent out by the bans - two years for Shoaib and 12 months for Asif - is unequivocal to any player considering using performance-enhancing substances.

"Without knowing the precise details of the case and tribunal hearing, it certainly is pleasing to see that the Pakistan Cricket Board and the tribunal have taken a serious stance against drugs in cricket, and let's hope that continues to be the case and we have very few positive tests in the future," he said.

Sutherland confirmed there had been fears that the PCB would give the two players involved nothing more than a slap on the wrists for their positive tests.

"I think perhaps there was some suggestion that the Pakistan Cricket Board would not take the hearing seriously," he said.

"I think one of the things that has certainly come out with the tribunal findings - and I'm certainly not au fait with exactly the details of each case - but I think there is a strong indication that they have taken the matter as seriously as it deserves to be taken.

"There were obviously some serious penalties handed out."

Sutherland is certainly familiar with dealing with doping cases after Shane Warne's 12-month ban for testing positive to a diuretic in 2003.

Shane Warne was punished for taking a diuretic before the World Cup © Getty Images

But he has said he won't be giving the Australian players any special edict on their on or off-field behaviour during the Ashes.

An Australian Rules player was recently sent home from a national touring team in Ireland after a brawl, sparking questions about the behaviour of sports stars.

Sutherland said the Australian players, some of who have been involved in off-field indiscretions before, know all too well what is expected of them and the perils of public life.

"I don't think that there's any real messages there that need to be re-enforced," he said.

"I speak to the players on a reasonably regularly basis, it's certainly not in terms of banging the table on that issue. I have great confidence in the leaders of the team and them understanding their responsibilities."

Sutherland revealed the issue of off-field behaviour had been discussed among the team members at the pre-Champions Trophy camp in Queensland.

"Some of those sort of issues were the sorts of things they discussed together as a group," he said. "They regularly talk about what they need to do to ensure the Australian cricket team remains Australia's favourite team.

"Our guys are very experienced and well-travelled and they know and understand the pitfalls.

"That's not to say that every now and then they don't find themselves in a spot of bother, but I think that at the same time, they really know how to deal with those situations."