Fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed has been placed on report for a suspect bowling action following Pakistan’s one-day loss to New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.
The International Cricket Council today confirmed the report was made by Australian umpire Darrell Hair and New Zealand’s Billy Bowden.
Ahmed failed to take a wicket during his 10 overs yesterday, conceding 63 runs in the fifth and final one-day match.
“The umpires asked to review footage of Ahmed’s action from the match and after seeing this footage decided to report the bowler to the ICC,” said ICC General Manager, Cricket David Richardson.
“This issue now comes under the ICC’s regulations dealing with this matter and over the next six weeks Ahmed and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will have the opportunity to work on any areas of concern. Ahmed will be able to continue to play during this time.”
Umpire Hair caused an uproar in 1995 when he repeatedly called Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing during the Boxing Day Test against Australian at the MCG.
In 1999, he and umpire Peter Willey reported Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar’s action which led to a month’s ban.
Under ICC regulations, Ahmed must now work with specialist advisors to be appointed by his home Board and a human movement specialist from an ICC specialist panel to review his bowling action.
A report will then submitted by the Pakistan Cricket Board to the ICC.
If Ahmed is reported again by umpires a formal hearing is then held by the ICC’s Bowling Review Group (BRG) and he may be banned from the game for 12 months or until the BRG is satisfied that the concerns with his action are rectified.
Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis is to help paceman Shabbir Ahmed re-model his bowling action after being reported to the International Cricket Council. The legality of Shabbir’s action has been called into question by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Bowden.
They reported him after reviewing video footage following Saturday’s one-day international against New Zealand.
“We feel Waqar is the best person to help Shabbir in this situation,” said a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman.
The 27-year-old can continue to play while he and Waqar spend the next six weeks working on his action.
After watching the recent test matches between South Africa and West Indies, I think Fidal Edwards has a very suspect bowling action. Every now and then it clearly looks as if he trows the ball.
Will he ever be called since he is not such a well known bowler?
Since Waqar and Shabbir are likley to be in direct competition for one spot in the upcoming series, I don’t know if Waqar will wan’t to be coaching him anymore
