QeA Trophy: Ahmed Shehzad removed from HBL team roster

Opener is provisionally suspended by PCB on doping charges

KARACHI: Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad has been left out of the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) team roster for the 2018-19 season of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy.

Shehzad — who was the captain of HBL in the previous season — is currently suspended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on doping charges. His sample tested positive for a banned substance during the Pakistan Cup 2018 held in Faisalabad.

Shehzad has filed his response to the PCB on the charge sheet that was handed out to him but a date for the hearing is yet to be decided.

When an HBL official was approached on the matter, he said that Shehzad is still a part of the side but he won’t be included in the 25-man squad until he is cleared by the PCB.

“We will include Shehzad in the squad if he is given clean chit by the board. We will pay the legal fees to ensure his place in the side,” an HBL official said.

Meanwhile according to sources, it is also expected that Shehzad’s name will be omitted from the list of centrally contracted players, which will be announced in a few days’ time.