Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has admitted his team are now in "serious trouble" after the drugs bans handed out to strike fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal on last week banned Akhtar for two years and the less-experienced Asif for 12 months after they each tested positive for the prohibited steroid nandrolone, a performance-enhancing drug.

Their absence leaves Pakistan short of bowling firepower for the West Indies series which starts this weekend and the tour of South Africa early next year.

Inzamam is returning to lead the team after a four-game ban imposed after Pakistan's forfeit of the fourth Test against England at The Oval in August which saw him miss the Champions Trophy one-dayers in India.

And he returns to an attack where seamer Umar Gul and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria are now the key bowlers.

"Our preparations for the West Indies series have not been helped by the bans on Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif," Inzamam said Monday in his diary on the Bigstarcricket.com website.

"We have named a squad that we think will give us the best chance of victory but the action against Shoaib and Asif was a hard decision.

"They will be a big loss to Pakistan because they are special bowlers. We will still go into all our matches with the belief that we can win - especially the World Cup.

This decision will hurt us more in the Test matches.

"On the case itself, I would say that it's very difficult to know about these things in Pakistan.

"There is no awareness about the medicines. I think this is the reason why they have taken the tablets or banned substance.

"Asif, especially, has not been to any anti-doping lecture. In Pakistan if you go to the pharmacy without a prescription for a headache or an upset stomach, nobody is worried about what you have taken.

"At their appeal, I hope their bans will be reduced. Even if the bans are cut, though, it is difficult to see them making the World Cup if they miss the West Indies and South Africa series.

"Spinners and batsmen can play straight away and get back into their game but fast bowlers need time to get their rhythm back," added Inzamam who said that Akhtar, 31, would find it all but impossible to return if he was out for two years.

"If Shoaib's ban is not reduced it will be very difficult for him to come back. It would be difficult for anyone who is 30-plus and out of the game for two years to come back from that kind of ban, not just him.

"I know Shane Warne was older and came back but he was only banned for a year and it is easier for spinners. Two years is a long time. I just hope he wins his appeal."

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)