Throwing problem unresolved
By Andrew Ramsey
December 7, 2004
PAKISTAN’s premier finger-spinner Shoaib Malik has struck double trouble that could prevent him playing a decisive role in the upcoming three-Test series against Australia over the next month.
Malik, who last October was reported to the International Cricket Council because of doubts over the legality of his bowling action, was due to meet biomechanical experts in Perth tomorrow in a bid to overcome the problem.
But the 22-year-old right-hander has sustained a bizarre injury to the wrist on his bowling arm.
Malik, who has played seven Tests, will not play in today’s formal tour opener against a Cricket Australia chairman’s XI at Lilac Hill, because of a tendon strain he aggravated while playing an arcade-style table football game in Perth on Sunday evening.
He was unable to participate in yesterday’s team fielding session at the WACA Ground in Perth where he was restricted to hitting slips catches to other fielders.
He spent much of the 90-minute session clutching an ice-pack to his wrist. Team officials hope he will be fit enough to play in the four-day match against Western Australia beginning at the WACA on Thursday.
There is doubt on when he will be able to meet the University of Western Australian human movement specialists Bruce Elliott and Daryl Foster.
Foster is on a week’s leave, while Elliott has only just returned from overseas. Neither could be contacted yesterday.
Due to their schedules and Malik’s repetitive strain problem - which captain Inzamam-ul-Haq diplomatically described as “an indoor sports injury” - it was easy to understand Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer’s uncertainty over where the remedial process lies.
“I don’t know what the story is there. I haven’t been told, I’m actually in the dark,” Woolmer said yesterday. “As far as the injury goes, he’s all right. He’s just sore at the moment.”
Malik, who was cited over his bowling style in 2002 but subsequently reviewed and cleared to play after he remodelled his action, was reported by Australian umpire Simon Taufel and New Zealand match referee Jeff Crowe after a one-day game against Sri Lanka in Lahore on October 16.
Under the existing ICC bowling review procedures, he must work with advisers and human movement specialists appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board to have his action reviewed before a full report is submitted to the ICC.
Woolmer said yesterday the problem with Malik’s action, which the bowler claims affects only his attempted straighter delivery, is not serious and should be remedied by his visit to Elliott and/or Foster.
“I know what the problem is, I spoke to the biomechanics chap in England and he told me what the problem is and it’s very easy to sort out,” Woolmer said.
“No-one ever does it (employ an illegal action) deliberately; it’s just something that happens within his action.”
Malik is not the only front-line Pakistani bowler to be watching from the sidelines today.
Flamboyant paceman Shoaib Akhtar will be rested in order to have him fully fit for the match against WA which precedes the first Test, beginning at the WACA on December 16.
His new-ball partner Mohammad Sami also will sit out today’s game. Teams:
Chairman’s XI: Justin Langer (c), Michael Hussey, Chris Rogers, Murray Goodwin, Marcus North, Dominic Thornely, Luke Ronchi, Beau Casson, Peter Worthington, Ben Edmondson, Tony Dodemaide, Geoff Lawson (12th man to be named).
Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (c), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Yousuf Youhana, Yasir Hameed, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Khalil, Naved-ul-Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Younis Khan (likely 12th man).
The Australian
:
,Indian conspiracy..Thinking in ISI style,:elmo::k: 
