Pakistan’s veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has sent his response to the International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board following his positive doping test during the T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka earlier this year. He claimed that he did not consume any prohibited substance intentionally.
A PCB source said on Thursday that Nawaz denied intentionally using any banned substance or recreational drugs. “He explained that he was taking some medication for a medical problem, but he wasn’t taking any drugs,” the source said. Nawaz is under investigation by the ICC and the PCB for alleged use of recreational drugs during the World Cup after a random test conducted by the authorities came back positive.
The left-armer has been cleared to play in the Pakistan Super League for Multan Sultans, but the ICC is expected to inform the PCB about the next course of action in the coming days. If the ICC is not satisfied with his explanation, Nawaz faces full ban from cricketwith the world body maintaining a strict stance on the use of banned substances and recreational drugs by players.
The all-rounder, who is a regular member of the national T20 team, was also questioned by PCB officials.
Pakistan cricket faced its biggest doping scandal in 2006 when fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar tested positive for a banned substance and were sent home from the ICC Champions Trophy in India. Although both were initially banned, the committee lifted the sanctions in December of that year after they appealed.
Other Pakistani cricketers who have faced bans for failing drug tests include spinners Raza Hasan and Yasir Shah, as well as batsman Ahmed Shehzad.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
23 Apr 2026 18:18 IST
