Shoaib Akhtar was among several Pakistan players to return negative dope tests ahead of the Champions Trophy.

All but four of the provisional squad for the tournament were tested by World Anti-Doping Agency accredited officials on July 19, with the samples sent to a doping control centre in Penang, Malaysia. All came back negative.

The four remaining players who were unavailable because of other commitments, including Younus Khan, will be tested soon.

Shoaib was named in the provisional list of 30 after the PCB delayed the naming of the squad due to a row over the payment of a seven million rupees fine by the fast bowler.

That fine was imposed as part of disciplinary action taken against Shoaib by the PCB. He was initially banned for five years, but that was subsequently reduced to 18 months on appeal and later suspended by the Lahore High Court until a fuller hearing can be held.

Shoaib and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif both tested positive for nandrolone in 2006, but had respective bans of two years and one year removed on appeal.

Asif is not in the provisional squad after testing positive for nandrolone during the Indian Premier League. His B sample is due to be tested next Wednesday.

Pakistan are the hosts of this year's Champions Trophy, which is slated to begin on September 11.