By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz is under investigation by the International Cricket Council after returning a positive test for recreational drug use during the T20 World Cup earlier this year, a development that has caused the collapse of his planned stint with Surrey in the English T20 Blast.
The 32-year-old, who has played 98 T20Is for Pakistan, was informed of the adverse finding by the ICC, which has triggered the global governing body’s anti-doping process. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Wednesday that it had been notified by the ICC and had immediately begun the required due process, with results of its initial inquiries due to be sent back to the ICC the same day.
A PCB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo: “The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about this matter, and PCB has begun the due process. The results of this process will be communicated to the ICC today.”
The positive result stemmed from a test conducted during Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign in Sri Lanka, where Nawaz featured in all seven of his side’s matches before they were eliminated at the Super Eight stage. He scored 15 runs and took seven wickets in the tournament.
Nawaz had been due to join Surrey for the full T20 Blast, which runs from May 26 to July 18. The PCB granted him a No-Objection Certificate two weeks ago, and the county had been preparing to announce his signing this week. However, the deal has now fallen through and Nawaz will not travel to England this summer. Surrey declined to comment when approached.
The PCB later said the ICC had requested Nawaz’s medical history to assist its inquiries and that the board had supplied the information. Until the ICC reaches a final decision, Nawaz remains available to play for his Pakistan Super League franchise, Multan Sultans.
He was in action as recently as Tuesday night, bowling three wicketless overs in Multan’s six-wicket victory over Rawalpindi in Karachi. Nawaz’s case is the latest involving a Pakistan player and recreational drugs. In 2006, fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were banned for two years and one year respectively after failing tests ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. Former Test spinner Yasir Shah received a three-month suspension in 2015 for a doping violation.
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