Pakistan strive to get Shabbir Ahmed bowling action cleared by AFP

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Player:

Shabbir Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif

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DateLine: 12th November 2006

 

The Pakistan Cricket Board is striving to get paceman Shabbir Ahmed's banned bowling action cleared by sending him to Australia for expert biomechanical testing, the board's chief said Sunday.

 

"PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) is sending Ahmed to Perth, Australia for biomechanic tests on his action in the University of Western Australia and hope his ban is overturned," Naseem Ashraf, the board's chairman, told reporters.

 

Last year Ahmed became the first bowler to be banned for 12 months for his technique.

 

The lanky 29-year-old seamer's bowling action will be tested by Professor Bruce Elliott. Ashraf, who took over as PCB chief last month, hopes the results will see Ahmed cleared.

 

Pakistan lost key fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif to doping bans recently and are keen to get Ahmed back into Test cricket before they tour South Africa early next year.

 

Akhtar and Asif tested positive in PCB tests in September and were banned for two years and one year respectively.

 

Ahmed, who has taken 51 wickets in 10 Tests, has been plagued by an illegal bowling action. He was first reported in 1998 but was cleared after undergoing corrective training guided by former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding.

 

Ahmed was reported again in January 2004 but cleared by a panel of Pakistani bowlers. His action was reported again in May and then November last year, after which he was banned.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)