Pakistan pushing banned Shabbir's return for England series by AFP

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Player:	Shabbir Ahmed
Event:	England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 21st September 2005

 

Pakistan will send banned fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed to Australia for extra treatment on his suspect action, so he can return for the upcoming series against England, an official said Wednesday.

 

Ahmed, 29, was reported for a third time for so-called chucking in the West Indies in May this year and banned from bowling at international level after tests in July.

 

"We are sending Ahmed to Australia for more remedial measures," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director of operations Salim Altaf told AFP.

 

"We have fast-tracked the process so that we can have him for our home series against England in November."

 

Ahmed will fly to Australia on September 25 and will undergo further tests on his action under biomechanic expert Bruce Elliott on September 28, said Altaf, himself a former quick.

 

"We hope that a new report on his action will be sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC) within ten days and if it comes about we will talk to the ICC to review his action by the third week of October," said Altaf.

 

Pakistan host England for a three-match Test series and five one-day matches from November to December this year. The first Test starts in Multan on November 12.

 

"I am confident that I will get the all clear before the England series. It's a frustrating period but I hope I will come through," Ahmed told AFP.

 

He was first reported in a tri-series competition in Canada in 1998, but was cleared after undergoing some corrective measures by former West Indian bowler Michael Holding.

 

His action went under the scanner for a second time when he was reported during Pakistan's Test series in New Zealand last year.

 

Pakistan has been badly hit by illegal bowling action problems, with Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafiz all having been reported for suspect actions in the past.

 

According to new ICC rules brought in during March, all bowlers are allowed to straighten their arms to 15 degrees.

 

Once a bowler's action is reported for being suspect, an ICC-appointed expert analyses the action and if it still exceeds the limit the bowler is immediately suspended.

 

Any bowler reported twice within two years must be banned for at least a year, according to ICC rules.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)