Yasir Shah doping ban caused by blood-pressure medicine

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan hopes Yasir Shah will not be harshly dealt with over a failed doping test, insisting the result came by the bowler mistakenly taking his wife's medicine.

Leg-spinner Yasir was found to have given a positive sample from a test carried out in November, and has consequently been banned by the ICC.

Chlortalidone, a diuretic which can ease hypertension but is also on WADA's list of banned substances as a masking agent, was found in Yasir's blood stream

"Blood-pressure problem runs in Yasir's family and he took his wife's medicine mistakenly," Khan told Dawn.

Yasir, who will miss upcoming T20 and ODI series with New Zealand due to his temporary ban, could face a suspension of four years if found to have knowingly contravened anti-doping laws by the ICC.