It seems to be the end of a run up for the Akhtar and Asif. The two Pakistani pacemen saw trouble on the follow through as they failed doping tests amidst their Champions Trophy campaign.

Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif will now be left out of play in the ongoing Champions Trophy. Speedster Shoaib and the talented Asif have been suspended and are likely to miss out on the World Cup next year following their positive dope tests for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid.

Pakistan Cricket Board officials said that Shoaib and Asif have tested positive after routine tests were carried out before the team's departure for India. And as soon as the reports came out the duo were asked to go for another test on their urine samples. In the meantime they have been suspended and will return home.

As rules specify that their B samples have to be tested for reconfirmation, this is also being done. If the B samples too meet with the same fate, according to ICC rules the duo could face a ban of up to two years. Which in turn means that Pakistan would have to begin their World Cup campaign minus the speedsters. The World Cup is to be played in the West Indies in March-April 2007.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board has sought permission from the ICC for replacements to India to play the Champions Trophy, which is currently on. According to a PCB official, replacements under the participating nations agreement have been sought.

Only two other cricketers have been banned previously for taking banned substances. One of them, Ed Giddins who played four Tests for England, was banned for taking cocaine , and then Shane Warne, the Aussie star just before the 2003 World Cup.