Chandigarh, Nov 2: International Cricket Council (ICC) today commended the Pakistan Cricket Board for setting "fine precedent" by taking a strong stand against banned pace duo Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

"The PCB has done extremely well in handling this matter in such an efficient manner and its strong stand against doping is a fine precedent," ICC president Percy Sonn said in a statement issued here.

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PCB's anti-doping commission issued its report yesterday announcing the decision to ban Shoaib Akhtar for two years and Mohammad Asif for one year after both were found guilty of using banned steroid nandrolone in a dope test conducted by the PCB before the ongoing Champions Trophy.

Sonn praised the PCB's three-member drug tribunal for being "professional" in their work and expressed satisfaction with its judgement.

"I have read the judgement handed down by the PCB Anti-Doping Commission and feel I must commend the group for its work," he said. (Agencies)

Published: Thursday, November 02, 2006