Shoaib and Asif were Pakistan's first-choice new ball pair

The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Karachi talks to fans and pundits.

"It's a sad day for Pakistan cricket, and indeed for cricket in general", says Aamer Sohail, ex-captain of the Pakistan team and former chief selector.

Shoaib in full cry is one of cricket's most exciting sights

He adds that it is a "great pity that two such talented cricketers" will now be unavailable for a considerable period.

The effect on the Pakistan cricket team is not going to be anything short of deadly, says Rishad Mahmood, Sports Editor for the Dawn Newspaper.

"It's a big disaster for Pakistan cricket," he said.

Mr Mahmood says that the turn of events has severely dented the Pakistan team's chances of lifting the World Cup.

"Shoaib's career looks likely to be over," he predicts.

'Politics involved'

Most fans agree with this outlook, although they have a different take on how the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should have handled the issue.

"The ban is not correct... as Pakistanis the board should have defended them," says Samir Faruqi, an ardent cricket fan from Karachi.

He adds that "they should definitely be punished if they are guilty" but he believes that "they have been made a victim of team politics".

His views echo the word on the street.

Another fan, Imran Yusuf, says "Shoaib and Asif were sidelined because of the politics involved".

He goes on to say that this is a direct result of President Musharraf's interference in PCB affairs - "he keeps appointing his personal friends as heads".

Yusuf also believes that "Pakistan's World Cup chances are greatly lessened", but primarily due to the absence of Asif.

"Shoaib Akthar's career is over anyway and his absence is not likely to effect the team's performance," he says.

Asif and Shoaib have both been banned

But Faruqi, and others, believe that the fast bowler's absence will be dearly felt.

"I don't like his personal habits, but he is our best player," he argues.

Some fans, however, are of the opinion that the players got what they deserved and that Pakistan cricket will recover quickly.

"The ban was a fair decision," says Tariq Hussain, "nothing will happen to the Pakistan team."

As far as winning the World cup is concerned, Hussain believes that Pakistan's chances "were not very bright anyway".

"Our team is not that good.... if we can make it to the semis it will be a bonus," he contends.

Most fans, though, are extremely disappointed and pessimistic about the future of the team.

Mohammad Asif before he had tested positive for nandrolone

"They should throw out all of them - they are all good for nothing," says Ahmer Shamim, an irate fan.

He goes on to say that Inzamam-ul-Haq is the only person good enough to be in the team, and that Younis Khan should never be made captain again.

"But we are not going to be able to do anything at the World Cup," he complains bitterly.

'Contingency plan'

Experts agree and are now calling for an in-depth examination of how cricket is run in the country.

"Lets assume that Shoaib and Asif were not banned but had become injured for the period," says Aamer Sohail.

"This is something which happens often to fast bowlers in modern cricket. In fact both bowlers had just returned from injuries.

"So what kind of contingency plan was available for such a situation?" he asks. "Where are the replacements?"

It's a big disaster for Pakistan cricket Rishad Mahmood, Sports Editor of the Dawn Newspaper

This, in his view, exposes what the coach, captain and selection committee have been doing for the last two years.

As far as the players are concerned, he feels that "a very harsh line has been adopted, especially in the case of Shoaib".

Rishad Mahmood, however, believes that there was little the board could do given the rules laid down by the World Anti-Doping Authority.

Mahmood adds that while the international cricketing world "has appreciated the decision", it has "brought a bad name to Pakistan cricket".

Analysts concur, saying that the continuing controversies have started to take a heavy toll on the team's performance.

That they argue is evident from the Champion's Trophy debacle.

Mahmood, meanwhile, believes that the new PCB Chairman, Nasim Ashraf, has his work cut out, despite the tough statements he has been making of late.

"A lot of bigger names have tried and failed in the past," he says.

"Going by that record it is probably harder to run Pakistan cricket than the country itself," he adds with a wry grin.