English cricket chiefs back Shoaib

England cricket chiefs have rubbished media reports suggesting that Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar's action is again under scrutiny.

British newspapers reported on Friday that umpires Peter Willey and Tony Clarkson had examined video replays of Shoaib's action during the tourists' match against Derbyshire.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) immediately issued a statement saying the reports were "wholly misleading."

Shoaib, who has not played Tests for a year, remodelled his action after it was officially questioned by several umpires. The 25-year-old, at one time regarded as the fastest bowler in the world, was also reported for a suspect action in 1999.

ECB operations manager Alan Fordham, however, said the two umpires had been invited by Sky Television to look at a new device being used to analyse lbw decisions.

"During the course of their visit, the umpires saw TV clips of several bowlers including one delivery by Shoaib Akhtar.

"But it is wholly misleading to suggest that the umpires' visit to the Sky production truck was prompted by concerns about Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action," he said.

"The umpires will not be making any mention of Shoaib Akhtar's action in their report on the match to the ECB."

Shoaib, dubbed the "Rawalpindi Express", is part of a 17-man squad in England for two tests and a triangular one-day series. The first test at Lord's starts on May 17.

Shoaib is trying to regain his place in the team after missing the test series against New Zealand in March through injury.

Ironically, Willey and Australian Darrell Hair have been appointed as the umpires at Lord's. It was they who questioned Shoaib's action two years ago during a test match against Australia.

Bowling and biomechanics experts at the University of Western Australia in Perth last month declared that Shoaib's action was legal, even though he had "abnormal" arm movement.

But they suggested he modify his action to help reduce the risk of injury.

Mail Cricket Editor