Banned Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq Wednesday backed team-mates Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif to be cleared of doping charges, saying they must have taken banned drugs accidentally.

Master batsman Inzamam, who is currently serving a ban of four one-day internationals for bringing the game into disrepute during the Oval Test fiasco against England in August, said the pair must get a fair hearing.

"I hope they have taken a medicine inadvertently and the medical panel would consider that, because they are our main hopes for next year's World Cup," Inzamam told reporters here.

Akhtar and Asif were sent home from the Champions Trophy in India on Monday after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone, and are set to face a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal later this week.

The three-man tribunal is likely to be named later Wednesday. It is expected to include former Test captain and coach Intikhab Alam, a doping expert and a lawyer.

The minimum penalty for a first doping offence under International Cricket Council (ICC) rules is a two-year ban but the PCB says the home board will determine its own punishment.

"I don't think they would suffer the worst of fates and (hope they) would be available to play for Pakistan in the World Cup," said the 36-year-old Inzamam, Pakistan have been considered as a leading contender for the tournament in the West Indies next March and April.

Inzamam was forced to sit out the ongoing Champions Trophy for leading Pakistan's refusal to return to the field on the fourth day of the fourth Test at the Oval after they were penalised five runs for alleged ball-tampering.

The ICC cleared him of altering the condition of the ball but found him guilty for bringing the game into disrepute, slapping him with the four-match ban.

Pakistan however proved they could overcome the loss of Inzamam, Akhtar and Asif on Tuesday when they defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in their opening Champions Trophy match at Jaipur.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)