PCB looks to ICC for easing Yasir's punishment

The Pakistan Cricket Board has sent a delegation to Dubai to meet with the ICC officials in a bid to salvage the international career of leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
A reliable source in the board told PTI today that the delegation, which is headed by chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad and includes a legal and an anti-doping medical expert, has gone to Dubai with all the related documentation pertaining to the Yasir case.
Yasir, who has been Pakistan's most successful Test bowler in 2014-15 season, was provisionally banned by the ICC in December after failing a random dope test taken in November when the team was playing England in the UAE.

After the ban was imposed the PCB filed an appeal on behalf of Yasir with the ICC stating that he is exercising his right to appeal against the provisional ban since the player had not taken any banned substance or drug intentionally.
The ICC and its anti-doping experts will study the appeal and decide future line of action.
The source said the PCB delegation was in Dubai to discuss the matter with the ICC officials and try to ensure that Yasir was given a short ban and not a long term one.

The PCB said in the appeal that after thorough investigations they had concluded that Yasir had taken a medicine for high blood pressure, which belonged to his wife, by mistake.

"He had no intention of using a masking agent of any kind," the board said.
The board says its medical panel and legal experts have studied Yasir's case and after listening to him came to the conclusion that he deserves a reprieve on compassionate grounds.
PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan has also said that Yasir had taken the medicine prescribed for his wife's high blood pressure by mistake late night during the series against England.
"His family also has a history of blood pressure and heart condition problems," he told the media earlier here.
Yasir, 29, who has taken 76 Test wickets in 12 matches, was provisionally banned after the results of the random dope test carried out on November 12.

He tested positive for use of chlortalidone, which is on WADA's prohibited list of diuretics and masking agents. Chlortalidone also treats high blood pressure.