Akhtar's action was always legal: report

Pakistan moved to end the controversy surrounding paceman Shoaib Akhtar by publishing a report which says his bowling action has always been legal because he has an "abnormal" arm.

The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that Akhtar, who has twice been reported for throwing, had agreed to change his action. But it said the main reason was because he wanted to cut down the risk of injury, not because his action was faulty.

The board published a report by a panel of experts at the University of Western Australia on its official website which concluded that Akhtar "does not throw based on the biomechanical assessment of his bowling action".

The report says that Akhtar's problems with umpires -- he was reported in 1999 and again this year, leading to concerns that he could be banned from the game -- were due to a "hypermobile elbow joint".

"Unfortunately, the abnormalities of his bowling limb give the impression of a semi-throwing motion," it said.

"Mr Akhtar is unable to avoid hypermobility of his bowling action... and therefore should NOT be regarded as throwing due to his abnormal anatomical characteristics."

The experts from the university's Department of Human Movement and Exercise Science, however, convinced Akhtar to remodel his action, principally to reduce the chance of injury.

The 25-year-old, dubbed the "Rawalpindi Express" and a leading contender for the title of the world's fastest bowler, has been plagued by injuries during his short career. He has taken 45 wickets in 15 Tests and is in the 17-man party to tour England.

The report, which followed three weeks of Tests with Akhtar who was filmed bowling at speeds of around 150 kph, said the changes should help Akhtar "increase his longevity in the game".

It added that he would be able to bowl just as fast while "his accuracy would increase and he would be in a better position to swing the ball".

Mail Cricket Editor