November 26, 2001	Monday	Ramazan 10, 1422

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LAHORE, Nov 25: The PCB bowling review committee Saturday watched Shoaib Akhtar’s bowling action footage which was sent by the ICC Thursday.

The PCB director, Brig Munawwar Rana, said the footage was being sent to Western Australian University and further line of action would be taken after its report.

The PCB official said the review committee mentioned nothing new in its report and had cleared Shoaib.

Earlier, Western Australian University had cleared Shoaib Akhtar by saying the bowling arm of the controversial pacer was deformed.   The PCB has refused ICC’s advice of hiring former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding for rectifying Shoaib’s action and to submit a report by Feb 7.

“Our bowling review panel had a look at the footage sent to us by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and it has recommended that this be sent to Western Australian University for expert opinion,” Munawwar told SADA.

“Our panel has conceded that Akhtar’s problem remains the same. It is the hyper mobility of his bowling arm which is causing problems.”

Shoaib’s bowling action was reported for the third time during the Sharjah tri-series earlier this month by South African match referee Denis Lindsay.

“We would send the tapes to Australian University within the next couple of days so that they can see the latest footage and tell us whether the problem is the same or not,” Munawwar said.

He said ICC, unlike in the past, has not specified which of Akhtar’s delivery is “suspected”. “ICC’s report only says that their officials have concerns over Shoaib’s action and nothing more specific.”