ICC confirms Shabbir Ahmed can resume bowling in international cricket by ICC

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Player:

Shabbir Ahmed

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DateLine: 21st December 2006

 

ICC Media Release - 21 December 2006

 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has written to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirming fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed can resume bowling at international level.

 

That permission was granted after the ICC received a report on the latest independent analysis of his action, recently undertaken by Professor Bruce Elliott at the University of Western Australia (UWA).

 

The report indicated Shabbir is now once again capable of bowling within the ICC tolerance level which is a 15 degree elbow extension with every delivery.

 

After forwarding the report on Shabbir Ahmed to the PCB, ICC General Manager - Cricket, David Richardson, re-stated the ICC's policy in relation to suspected illegal bowling actions.

 

"The findings of the report means that Shabbir can resume bowling in international cricket," said Mr Richardson. "But the effect of the report by Professor Elliott or any other report from a biomechanical expert cannot be to clear Shabbir without limitation in the future.

 

"Everyone needs to be aware that no bowlers are ever 'cleared' as they could simply revert to bad habits.

 

"All bowlers are subject to further reporting if the match officials are of the view that they have concerns about whether a delivery or deliveries conform to the Laws of Cricket when observed with the naked eye."

 

Shabbir Ahmed was the first bowler to be banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months after new regulations governing the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal actions were introduced in March 2005.

 

The bowler was initially suspended in July 2005 after his action was assessed following a report filed during Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies.

 

Shabbir was able to return to action after undergoing remedial work and then submitting to a further analysis of his action but he was reported for a second time after the first Test against England in Multan in November 2005.

 

His action was assessed once more, found to be illegal and as it was the second time such a finding had been arrived at within two years of the first period of suspension he received a mandatory one-year ban.

 

Shabbir and the PCB appealed the ban in January 2006 and took its case to a Bowling Review Group (BRG) made up of Sir Oliver Popplewell (Chairman) biomechanist Marc Portus, former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath and ex-international umpire Dick French.

 

The BRG upheld the ban, ruling Shabbir out of bowling in international cricket until a report on his action was received following the completion of the ban.

 

The report of Professor Elliott and his team at UWA concluded: "Mr Ahmed should be congratulated on being able to modify the level of his elbow extension.

 

"However both he and Pakistan cricket officials are encouraged to continue to monitor his delivery action to ensure it does not regress from a legality perspective."

 

If Shabbir is reported again, he will be suspended from bowling at international level until his action is reassessed.

 

The regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal actions can be viewed at: http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/rules/

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2006 International Cricket Council)