Pakistan completed dope tests on all but three of their World Cup 15-man
squad and five reserves, but tests on Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif
were deferred, an official said. 
Asif is in England for a reassessment of his elbow injury
and on his return will give a test, in the next few days. I have no official
information on Akhtar`s return home, but hopefully he too will appear soon,"
Pakistan Cricket Board anti-doping official Sohail Ahmed said
on Sunday.
Akhtar was also in England having a reassessment of a knee
injury which threatens his chances of featuring in the World Cup, starting in
the Caribbean from March 13.
Captain Inzamam ul Haq was the last player to be tested
on Sunday, while allrounder Shahid Afridi will appear this week upon
his return from England, where he was playing in a charity match.
All the players were directed to appear for dope tests before
the training camp for the World Cup starts, from February 22.
Ahmed said urine samples would be sent to the World Anti
Doping Agency (WADA) in the next couple of days and he hoped results would
be received in a week.
The PCB decided to have pre-World Cup dope tests
to avoid the embarrassment of any mishap in the mega event, where the International
Cricket Council (ICC) will conduct target testing.
Experts have warned that Akhtar and Asif, who face life bans
if they test positive again, could still have illegal substances in their systems
after they tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in October last
year.
Some experts believe the prospects of another positive test and a possible
life ban raise doubts on whether the pair will appear for the tests, or skip
them.
If they skip the tests, they will have to be withdrawn from
Pakistan`s 15-man World Cup squad.
Pakistan can replace any injured or positive-tested player until March 2. After
the deadline, only the ICC`s technical committee can allow any replacements.
Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year in November
last year. However, their bans were controversially overturned by a PCB appellate
committee in December, on the grounds they did not take the banned substance
knowingly.
The WADA last year appealed against the bans being overturned
to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Switzerland. The CAS, which
has formed a three-member panel to ascertain whether it has the jurisdiction
to take the case, is unlikely to meet before April this year.
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