Allegations of Drug Trafficking by Pakistani Cricket Teams Surface

R V S Mani, a former Under Secretary of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, has made shocking allegations regarding drug trafficking by Pakistani cricket teams visiting India. He specifically named former players Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who were banned for doping in 2006. Mani also linked the mysterious death of coach Bob Woolmer to these activities, suggesting a connection to terrorism funding in India. This article delves into the serious implications of these claims and their potential impact on cricket and beyond.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 14, 2026, 18:19 IST

Serious Accusations Against Pakistani Cricketers

In a recent statement, R V S Mani, a former Under Secretary of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, claimed that drug trafficking has been a persistent issue involving Pakistani cricket teams visiting India. He specifically mentioned former cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who faced bans from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2006 after testing positive for the prohibited substance nandrolone.

Both Akhtar and Asif received suspensions—two years for Akhtar and one year for Asif—after the PCB's tribunal found them guilty of using the anabolic steroid following positive results from internal tests conducted in September 2006. They were subsequently excluded from the squad ahead of their first match against Sri Lanka during the Champions Trophy in Jaipur on October 17.

Mani stated, "We have documented instances involving Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who were sent back by the Pakistani High Commissioner after admitting to carrying drugs. This has been a recurring issue. Whenever Pakistani teams visit India, they engage in drug trafficking."

He further alleged that it is an established policy in Pakistan to smuggle drugs into India, asserting that many high-profile individuals within the Pakistani cricket team have been involved in this practice.

Additionally, Mani linked the suspicious death of former Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer to these drug trafficking activities, suggesting that Woolmer was killed because he opposed the actions of the players. Woolmer was found dead on March 18, 2007, in Jamaica, shortly after Pakistan's unexpected loss to Ireland in the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

According to Mani, an estimate from the Defence Intelligence Agency during that time indicated that approximately 30% of the funding for terrorist activities in India was sourced from the drug trade. He concluded, "Bob Woolmer, who resisted the drug trafficking by Pakistani players, died under mysterious circumstances. All these elements are interconnected, and it is evident that drug trafficking is a serious issue with far-reaching implications."