Shoaib could sue ICC: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced it will back fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar if he resorts to the courts to try and have his controversial bowling action declared legal.

"We have given him this right and the board will provide all backing and support to Akhtar if he decides to file a legal suit against any process to review his bowling action," PCB chief Lieutenant-General Tauqir Zia said in Karachi on Friday.

He added that the 26-year-old bowler, one of the biggest draws in cricket, was keen to take legal action if necessary to salvage his career.

The Pakistani bowler -- nicknamed the "Rawalpindi Express" and vying with Australia's Brett Lee for the title of the world's fastest bowler in recent seasons -- was reported for a suspect bowling action for the third time in all and the second time in 12 months after a tournament in Sharjah this month.

Another such incident within the next four months, according to International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, could open the way for him to be banned from the sport for a year.

The ICC said on Wednesday it had appointed former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding to work with Shoaib on his bowling before submitting a report by February.

But the PCB said it was opposed to the latest review, calling on the ICC to study reports produced earlier this year at the University of Western Australia, where Shoaib remodelled his action under the guidance of Dennis Lillie and Australian bowling coach Daryl Foster.

The ICC said they were disappointed by the PCB's reaction.

"It is disappointing that the PCB appears to be challenging the process," the ICC said in a statement on Friday.

"Match officials are at liberty to report any player for a suspected illegal bowling action, whether or not they have been accused - or cleared of - an illegal action in the past.

"If this were not the case, players whose actions had been questioned but cleared would be in a privileged position compared with other players.

"It would seem illogical and unfair to give them a guarantee that their action could never be called into question again."

ABNORMALLY FLEXIBLE ARM

The reports from the Australian university's highly regarded biomechanical department argued the elbow and shoulder of Shoaib's bowling arm were abnormally flexible, giving the illusion of the ball being thrown during his bowling delivery.

Zia added: "We will be sending a letter to the ICC asking them to first make it clear to us what they have to say on the medical report which clears Akhtar's bowling action and explains his peculiar hyper-mobility conditions in the joints of his bowling arm.

"We are going to fight this case with all resources in our hands. We don't accept Akhtar being put through stage two of the bowling review process."

Zia said that while Holding was welcome to come to Pakistan, the country's cricket board was not in a position to fund any visit.

Shoaib said late on Thursday he was determined to continue playing international cricket and wanted the problem resolved for once and all.

"I am a fighter and I want to continue playing for Pakistan. I have a lot of cricket left in me, but yes I want this issue about my suspect bowling action resolved for once," Shoaib said.

Shoaib was first reported for a suspect action in Australia in December 1999 and suspended for a month. He was reported again in March in New Zealand, leading to him changing his action.

"I don't really want to say much. But yes, they are treating me like a funny man. They report me when they want. They impose sanctions on me and then they also clear me," Shoaib said.

Shoaib, who has only played one test in the last year-and-a-half following a series of injuries, said what saddened him most about the latest report was he had only recently come out of a bad patch and got his rhythm and match fitness back.

"I worked very hard with leading experts of this field in Australia earlier this year and I came through every test," Shoaib said.

"I am very keen to play for Pakistan in the coming months and I want to take part in next year's series against the West Indies, Australia and South Africa firing on all cylinders."

Mail Cricket Editor