Pakistan to review Afridi's
bowling action
Pakistan cricket authorities said on Wednesday they would follow International Cricket Council procedures to assess whether leg-spinner Shahid Afridi's bowling action is illegal.
"Pakistan will strictly follow the process and, as the first step, form a panel of expert bowlers who will review Afridi's action and give a report," Pakistan Cricket Board director operations Brigadier Munawwar Rana said.
The ICC on Tuesday said Afridi and Bangladesh's Naimur Rehman and Mohammad Rafique had been reported by match referees for suspect actions during recent international matches.
"We have asked former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, pacer Mohsin Kamal and Ejaz Fakih to deal with Afridi's case and the panel will be announced within two days," Rana said.
Afridi, 20, known for his hard hitting batting, was reported by Australian match referee Barry Jarman during the one-day series against England in October last year.
Afridi took five wickets in Pakistan's win in the second one-day match at Lahore.
"Its Afridi's faster one that has come under suspicion but he will be under no ban as per the new process and can go to New Zealand if selected," Rana said.
"Australian Brett Lee's action was also questioned but now he has been playing," he said.
Under new ICC procedures adopted last week, suspect bowlers are to be dealt with by their own boards in the first instance.
The advisors will help the bowler to improve his action and during this period the bowler will not be under suspension.
If the player is reported again within 12 months of the first report the ICC will appoint one of its own advisors to work directly with the player on his action, with the bowler still allowed to compete.
A third report within 12 months will activate the ICC's bowling review group, which will meet with the bowler and then vote to determine if he has an illegal action.
If a majority said the action is illegal, the bowler will be banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months from the date of the hearing.
Afridi is the third Pakistan bowler to have his action questioned.
Express pacer Shoaib Akhtar was reported by Australian umpires and New Zealand match referee John Reid during Pakistan's tour of Australia in November 1999.
Akhtar was suspended in the last week of December 1999 but the then ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya of India allowed him to play one-day cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Board authorised him to resume Test cricket in March last year, a month after the ICC handed responsibility for suspect bowlers back to national boards.
Afridi said it was not the first time his faster ball action had been questioned.
"My faster one was questioned in Australia during the world series in 1996-97 but I was cleared and I am confident I will be cleared once again," he said.
"I use my wrist to bowl a faster one and its a legitimate delivery."
Mail Cricket Editor
