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Pakistan cricketer Raza banned for two years

Pakistan's Raza Hasan during a Twenty20 World Cup cricket match against Australia in Colombo October 2, 2012. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/Files

REUTERS - Pakistan spin bowler Raza Hasan has been banned for two years after failing a doping test, the country's cricket board said. The 22-year-old left-armer returned an "adverse analytical finding" from a urine sample taken during a domestic tournament in January, the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement. The board declined to name the substance. Raza, who has played one one-day international and 10 Twenty20 matches for Pakistan, was notified on March 24 and subsequently failed to send a written request for a hearing within 14 days, the PCB said. "Therefore in accordance with the Anti-Doping Rules and with the approval of the competent authority, Mr. Raza Hassan (Hasan) is being imposed with a ban that will make him ineligible to participate in the sport of cricket for a period of two years," the board said. Raza made his ODI debut against Australia in Dubai in October and played his last international match in a T20 against New Zealand in the Gulf city in December. (Writing by Ian Ransom; Editing by Julian Linden)