Timeline - The Shoaib and Asif saga

October 16, 2006
Akhtar, Asif pulled out of Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy, a day before Pakistan's opening game against Sri Lanka, after results of an internal dope test held in September by the PCB show them to have tested positive for nandrolone.

November 1, 2006
Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif found guilty of using nandrolone by a three-man drug tribunal formed by the PCB. They receive bans of two years and one year respectively.

December 5, 2006
Another subsequent appellate tribunal clears Akhtar and Asif of doping offences and lifts their bans. The panel rules that the players had not been sufficiently warned that the protein supplements they were using were contaminated with steroids. They also rule that the first tribunal had based their punishments on WADA's doping policy when in fact they should have based it on the PCB's own policy as the testing was done by the PCB and not at an international event.

December 6, 2006
WADA appeals to Court of Arbitration for Sport, saying PCB decision is "unreasonable" and in violation of the international anti-doping code.

Dec 18, 2006
ICC backs WADA's decision to appeal

Dec 25, 2006
Shahid Hamid, head of the first Pakistani anti-doping tribunal, which had banned Akhtar and Asif, says that WADA still has the power to reinforce the overturned bans.

Dec 29, 2006
Mohammad Asif returns to the Pakistan squad for the tour to South Africa but Shoaib misses out due to lack of match fitness

Jan 8, 2007
Akhtar flown in to South Africa as a back up to fast bowler Umar Gul who was under an injury cloud.

Jan 10, 2007
Akhtar and Asif named in the Pakistan's provisional, 30-man World Cup squad

Feb 13, 2007
Akhtar and Asif are included in Pakistan's 15-man World Cup squad.

March 1, 2007
Akhtar and Asif ruled out of the World Cup, officially because of injuries, but amid much speculation that the PCB were worried they would still be carrying traces of nandrolone in their bodies were they to be tested at the tournament. The ICC had indicated that it reserved the right to target-test any player.