ET News round-up: Top players pass their drugs tests (14 November 1998)

14 November 1998

ET News round-up: Top players pass their drugs tests

By Barrie Fairall

LEADING players throughout the country were yesterday given a clean bill of health on drugs after more than 300 samples taken this year proved negative.

The England and Wales Cricket Board conducted tests on the first and second teams of the first-class counties. All Minor Counties teams were also tested.

Gerard Elias QC, chairman of the ECB's disciplinary committee, said: "I'm very pleased they were all negative but we shall remain vigilant."

In Karachi, meanwhile, a judicial commission investigating allegations of match-fixing in Pakistani cricket yesterday ordered a group of top players to declare their financial assets.

A copy of the order reveals the players have been asked to submit verified details of their movable and immovable properties, bank accounts and other assets. They must also submit details of the assets of their close relatives and dependants.

Ali Sibtain Fazli, the Pakistan Cricket Board's legal adviser, said: "If any player is found to have assets more than his known sources of income he will be summoned by the judicial commission to explain the discrepancy."

The match-fixing and betting scam has dogged Pakistani cricket for nearly four years after Australians Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh accused Salim Malik of offering them bribes to perform poorly during the 1994-95 tour of Pakistan.

Angus Fraser has been voted player of the season, Richie Benaud commentator of the season and Christopher Martin-Jenkins, the Daily Telegraph's cricket correspondent, cricket writer of the season by readers of Wisden Cricket Monthly.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)