NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Shoaib issue is a 'joke', says Waugh

Australian captain Steve Waugh on Wednesday described the International Cricket Council's handling of the Shoaib Akhtar chucking incident as "a joke".

Akhtar was initially banned from the sport in December because of a suspect bowling action following a ruling from the ICC's illegal deliveries advisory panel. However, world cricket's governing body changed tack by announcing the Pakistan Cricket Board would have the final say on whether its star fast bowler Akhtar can play in Test matches.

"The whole thing is a joke, and all the players think it's a joke," Waugh told Australian Associated Press in Wellington.

"We've got no faith in the system. We're very professional in what we're doing on the field but off the field it just doesn't seem to be working."

The Australian team is in New Zealand for a six-match one-day series and three Tests against the Kiwis.

After being banned, Akhtar was sent for remedial coaching but the 24-year-old express paceman was given a partial reprieve on January 8 when ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya overturned the ruling for one-day matches in Australia. Dalmiya said then that Akhtar could play because his suspect action only happened when he bowled bouncers, which are illegal in limited-overs matches.

Akhtar was still banned from Tests but the ICC overturned that decision with its latest ruling, which put the matter in the hands of the PCB. He was allowed to play in Pakistan's current three-match one-day series against Sri Lanka and is almost certain to play in the Test series between the two countries starting later this month.