The International Cricket Council pointed to inconsistencies in Pakistan cricket's anti-doping process Wednesday, a day after an appeals panel overturned doping bans on fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif.

``This judgment emphasizes that much more work needs to be done to educate players and to synchronize our members' efforts to attain a totally drug-free sport,'' ICC president Percy Sonn said in a statement.

A Pakistan Cricket Board tribunal on Nov. 1 banned Akhtar and Asif for two years and one year respectively, after both players tested positive for the banned steroid Nandrolone.

A three-member appeals panel on Tuesday reversed the ban on a 2-1 split decision.

The appeal panel's written verdict explained that neither bowler had been warned or cautioned against dietary supplements that apparently led to them testing positive for the steroid.

``The judgment highlights inconsistencies in the Pakistan Cricket Board's anti-doping processes and regulations,'' Sonn said.

Sonn said all ICC member countries should revisit their own regulations and align their anti-doping policies with the World Anti-Doping Agency code and the ICC Anti-Doping code.

Nasim Ashraf, PCB chairman, said after the appeal panel's decision that neither the ICC nor WADA could overturn the Akhar and Asif verdict.

``The ICC or WADA cannot intervene because the doping tests were conducted out of competition by the PCB, and the chapter is now closed,'' Ashraf said.

WADA head Dick Pound disagreed with the appeal panel's assertion that the players should have been warned.

``No, it's quite clear that if you are an international athlete, you've got to be aware of the risks,'' Pound said. ``You don't get any points for saying someone forgot to warn me.''

Sonn said that educating cricketers on the subject of doping was important.

``The issue of player education is also of vital importance and the ICC will, with WADA's continued assistance, do its utmost to make it easier for our members to provide this service to their players and officials,'' Sonn said.

West Indies captain Brian Lara said he was happy that both bowlers were back in international cricket.

``The PCB has handled the situation and it's important we move on,'' Lara said. ``On a personal note, I am very happy for them and I hope they can move on with their careers.

``It's important for their cricket, it's important for Pakistan cricket and it's important for world cricket to ensure that this situation doesn't spiral into anything else.''

The PCB withdrew Akhtar and Asif a day before Pakistan was due to play its opening ICC Champions Trophy match at India in October. The pair returned their positive samples during internal doping tests conducted by the board in Pakistan.

The bans capped a torrid few months for the Pakistan team, which was forced to forfeit a Test match against England at The Oval this summer when the side refused to take the field after it was accused of ball tampering _ charges it was later cleared of.

Regular captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was subsequently banned for four limited-overs internationals on charges of bringing the game into disrepute.

© The Canadian Press, 2007