Shoaib can return for Tests
Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar has been given the green light to return to Test
cricket, having been banned because of a suspect bowling action.
The about-turn came as the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced, in a
landmark decision, that it had revoked the powers of its advisory panel to ban
bowlers with suspect actions. The decision was made at a two-day executive
board meeting which ended in Singapore on Thursday.
The decision will automatically reinstate Shoaib into Test cricket. He is currently
barred from playing Test cricket, though he was cleared last month to play
one-day internationals for Pakistan.
ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya announced that the council’s advisory panel on
illegal deliveries would “no longer ban a player with a suspect action until such
time as there has been a full review by the ICC of that power and related
procedures.”
Dalmiya explained that the onus would now be on the respective national bodies
to take action when the panel reported a bowler with a “suspect” action.
With regard to Akhtar, the ICC president said: "Pakistan will report the progress
on the remedial work on the bowler’s action and this will then be reviewed by the
panel.
“If further correction is required, then the panel will advise the Pakistan board
accordingly. It is then up to Pakistan to take Akhtar out of its international
squad.”
The measure acquires special significance as Pakistan host Sri Lanka from next
Sunday in their one-day international series. The first Test will be played from
February 26.
Shoaib will miss Sunday’s one-dayer having been banned on a seperate
disciplinary charge.