Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar. - Reuters

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP):

THE COMMITTEE hearing appeals against doping bans handed down to Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif has adjourned until November 20 at the request of Akhtar's lawyer.

"Akhtar's lawyer has asked for some time and the appeal committee will again meet next Monday (Nov. 20)," Pakistan Cricket Board director of operations Salim Altaf said.

A PCB tribunal last month banned Akhtar and Asif for two years and one year respectively after both players tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

The PCB withdrew the players a day before Pakistan were due to play their opening ICC Champions Trophy match in India. Akhtar and Asif returned their positive samples during internal doping tests conducted by the PCB.

A three-member committee comprising Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, a prominent lawyer, Haseeb Ahsan, a former Test cricketer, and Dr. Danish Zaheer, an anti-doping expert, is hearing the players' appeals.

Submissions

"We have to give the (players') lawyers complete opportunity to make their submissions," Ibrahim said.

"Akhtar's lawyer, Abid Minto, had sought some documents from the PCB which were necessary for his client's defense and expressed his inability to proceed with the matter today," he said.

Asif also appeared before the appeal committee with his lawyer - former Test cricketer Aftab Gul.

Renowned lawyer Mark Gay, who assisted the PCB during the International Cricket Council's code of conduct hearing following the Oval Test forfeit fiasco in August, has also travelled to Pakistan to help the committee.

"Mark Gay is an expert lawyer," Altaf said. "He is here to assist the appeal committee if and when required."

Ibrahim said that both players and the PCB were anxious that the matter was disposed of as early as possible. However, he didn't know how many days the appeals committee would take.

"Let the case be decided in accordance with the law, I expect to finish it as early as possible," he said.

Despite missing Akhtar and Asif, Pakistan recorded a thumping nine-wicket victory in the first Test against the West Indies on Tuesday with its second-string pacemen Umar Gul and Shahid Nazir sharing 15 wickets in the match.