Pakistan cricketer Ali Waqas has requested ICC to permit use of steroids

Pakistan domestic cricketer Ali Waqas has put up a request with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to permit him to use steroids. Waqas underwent a kidney transplant and is suggested use of some steroids because of the medical complications he is facing after the surgery.

Dawn reported that he had a kidney transplanted last year and has reached a point in recovery where he is planning his comeback to professional cricket. The two major teams he has played for includes Faisalabad Wolves and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited. Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq leads the SNGP team.

Recovering from the surgery Waqas said those fighting back after a transplant “cannot survive without steroids” and the best option at hand with him was to get an approval from the ICC which would allow him to use steroids for medical purpose of course. He is an experienced first-class cricketer and has featured in 72 matches scoring 3928 runs with an average of 37. He also has 8 hundreds and 21 half centuries to his credit. Waqas has also been a part of the Pakistan A team.

Former Pakistan Test batsman Basit Ali reportedly confirmed about the request made to the ICC for a special permission to the cricketer since it was indeed a special circumstance. It is also believed that the ICC chairman David Richardson gave a positive response to the issue.

As per the International Anti-Doping Agency’s rules the players can use steroids under unavoidable or specific circumstances but they should have a prior approval for the same from the international governing body.

Use of steroids is a sensitive case in sports and a list of players have been banned for life across all sports for consumption or use of prohibited stuff which is usually viewed as performance enhancers. A list of cricketers and a few from Pakistan have also been suspended by the ICC in the past.