KARACHI, Nov 19: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has again turned to Daryl Foster and the University of Western Australia to help try to rescue controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s career.
PCB Chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said: “We have spoken to bowling coach Daryl Foster and his team of experts at the biomechanics department of the University of Western Australia in Perth to view footage of Shoaib’s bowling in Sharjah and let us have some feedback.
“What we want to know is if there is substance in the suspicions raised by match officials in Sharjah and if his bowling action has undergone any deterioration in the last few months.”
Zia said Shoaib would not be sent to Perth for the moment.
“As it is he is going to Sydney to play club cricket. If the need arises he can easily be flown to Perth for a workout with the experts after they view his footage,” he said.
Zia argued that if the experts believed Shoaib’s bowling action could not be changed because of his unique physique, the ICC had to permit him to play.
Zia added that the visit to Pakistan of West Indian great Michael Holding, appointed by the ICC to work with Shoaib, would be delayed.
“We don’t want to keep Holding waiting. But first we want a opinion from the Perth institute on the Sharjah footage.”—Reuters