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The news of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif being recalled after testing positive for dope received extensive coverage on the front pages of most newspapers across the country. Most highlighted the news to suggest it was only Pakistan cricketers who were doing this, but a few asked why India was not conducting similar tests on its own cricketers.

In the north, most Hindi language papers lead with the story of the dope test and the likely ban on the two cricketers. Dainik Bhaskar even speculated on the possibility of them being out of the World Cup squad. Punjab Kesri had the story in a box as the day's second lead. Rajasthan Patrika, like Bhaskar, had the story as the day's lead and then followed this up two days later with a front page anchor based on a story in Pakistan paper The Nation. The story said coach Bob Woolmer had it in for Shoaib for two years, ever since he asked Shoaib to shorten his run up and the latter refused. Shoaib, the paper said, argued that just as no plane could take off without a long run on the taxiway, he couldn't either. Ever since, the report said, Woolmer decided to ruin Shoaib's career and even plotted to ensure physiotherapist Dr Taufiq Razzaq who was close to Shoaib was removed.

Apart from carrying the event as the day's lead, leading Kannada dailies had editorials on the issue. Market leader Vijaya Karnataka was critical of the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to create awareness about performance-enhancing drugs among cricketers. The newspaper also questioned the Pakistani cricketing fraternity's integrity. Praja Vani commended Pakistan for withdrawing both the tainted players from the Champions Trophy.

In Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu print media gave wide coverage to the ban. Eenadu also carried a boxed interview "" What about us? "" with BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah. "At present, we don't have any plans to conduct doping tests on the Indian cricket team. The board has prepared a booklet that comprises a list of safe and banned medicines, and the same was handed over to the cricketers. The team physio is also keeping a wary eye on the team," the newspaper quoted Niranjan Shah as saying. Eenadu also carried an analytical report on the banned anabolic steroid with quotes from experts, contending that high consumption of beef could also raise Nandrolone levels in humans. All the three newspapers carried the shattered Pakistan team's victory over Sri Lanka at Jaipur Sawaisingh Stadium, the next day.

Tamil daily Dinamalar didn't carry the news on its front page on the first day, but carried a quarter page report on the sports page with pictures.