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Yasir Shah banned by ICC for failing drug test

ICC bans Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah for three months

Pakistani spinner Yasir Shah has been banned for three months by the ICC after failing a drug test. The leg-spinner tested positive for a prohibited substance back in December. However, Yasir will be available to play again post March 27, once the retrospective penalty ends.

Shah's suspension is a major blow to Pakistan cricket, and a shock to the cricketing fraternity, especially because he has been one of the best performers in the international arena in recent times.  

This comes as a blow to the struggling Pakistani team as this ban rules Yasir out of the current Pakistan Super League (PSL), the upcoming Asia Cup T20 and the ICC World T20. He could make his return to the national side only during Pakistan’s tour of England in June.

Yasir Shah tested positive for a banned substance called chlorthalidone in a dope test conducted in December and had been suspended from cricket pending further investigation. A sample taken from Yasir on November 13, when Pakistan played an ODI against England in Abu Dhabi, was found to contain chlorthalidone, which is on WADA's prohibited list of diuretics and masking agents. Chlorthalidone is also used to treat high blood pressure.

Shah took 16 ODI wickets in 2015 and had a phenomenal run in Tests, taking 49 wickets in 7 matches. The 29-year old burst onto the scene last year, having taken more than half of the wickets of his career in 2015. He has been arguably Pakistan’s best cricketer in the past year.

This short ban comes to Pakistan Cricket as a relief after Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir was banned by the ICC in 2011 for spot-fixing in Pakistan 2010 tour of England.

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