Parnell appears in court, gets bail

Wayne Parnell, the South Africa and Pune Warriors bowler, has been granted bail by a Mumbai court after surrendering before it on charges of testing positive for recreational drugs, following a police raid on a party in the city last year. Legspinner Rahul Sharma, who also tested positive in that case, played for Warriors on Sunday against Kings XI Punjab.

A Warriors spokesman said Parnell went to the authorities with his lawyer. "He still hasn't joined the squad," the spokesman said. "He cannot do so until he gets bail and BCCI clearance." However, it is understood that securing bail will make it much easier for him to secure the BCCI clearance - Sharma has already obtained it.

Tony Irish, CEO of the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA), said the issue was being dealt with as an individual matter with Parnell and his agent. "He [Parnell] knew this was going to happen and he appointed Indian lawyers to deal with it," Irish said to ESPNcricinfo. "He is going through the process and we don't believe there is any substance to the charges. The next step is for the prosecution to see if there is sufficient evidence to have a trial or if they will dismiss the charges."

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo last month, Parnell had confirmed he would play in the IPL and claimed innocence on the drug charge. "As far as I am concerned, everything is fine," he said. "I've received a mail from Pune saying I have to come. I've got nothing to hide. The full story will come out once I get over there. They tested everyone that was at the party. I need to find my sample, because if they tested me they must have my sample and we need to match that up.

"I've been subjected to drug testing in my last five years as a professional cricketer, and I haven't tested positive once. So I've got nothing to worry about. As far as I am aware, they didn't give any specific samples and put them to names. They just said that a certain number of people tested positive. The individual samples need to be shown now."

Parnell and Sharma were among 90 people detained following the party at a hotel in the Juhu suburb of Mumbai on May 20 last year, a day after Pune Warriors' IPL 2012 campaign ended. According to reports, drugs including cocaine, MDMA and cannabis were consumed at the party.

Of the 90 people, 86 apparently tested positive - including 35 foreign nationals, who have been "shown as wanted" according to a police official. These 86 people had a 1200-page charge sheet drawn up against them last month, according to PTI.