Was at the wrong place at the wrong time: Parnell

Mumbai, May 21 (IANS): Pune Warriors’ South African fast bowler Wayne Parnell claimed Monday that he doesn’t do drugs and was at the wrong place at the wrong time when the Mumbai police raided a rave party in the Oakwood Premier Hotel near Juhu beach.

Parnell, who converted to Islam last year, and his Pune Warriors team mate Rahul Sharma, an India leg-spinner, were among the 100 people who were rounded up Sunday after police raided a rave party.

“I don’t do drugs. Myself and Rahul were there at the hotel in a party at the request of a friend. We went there and at 7′o’clock police were all over in the party. We were just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Parnell.

Asked if the friend was an old acquaintance, Parnell said: “It was an old friend and we met him last year. We have been in touch with him since then. We have nothing to do with drugs. We are on the WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) list and tested regularly.”

The 22-year-old from Port Elizabeth said he and Sharma had given their blood and urine for testing and was confident that they would come out clean.

“We fully co-operated with the cops. We have also given them our blood and urine sample and I am confident that our reports will be negative,” said Parnell.

Parnell said after they were rounded up they were separated in two groups of boys and girls and were taken to a hospital.

“We were taken to two-three hospitals and then landed up at the same hospital where the group was there. We have signed all the papers and submitted the documents as well,” he said.