RAWALPINDI, April 16: Pace ace Shoaib Akhtar could face action if he was found to have faked an injury and made a controversial phone call to controversial Rashid Latif during the third Test
, Shaharyar M. Khan, the PCB chairman, announced on Friday.
"We will analyse everything in the light of reports from the manager, coach and captain and action will be taken if he is found guilty; no one is bigger than the game," the PCB chief said.
Shoaib, who sat out the entire third day of the final Test in Rawalpindi, because of an apparent rib injury raised doubts with a rapid 28 laced with four boundaries and two sixes on Friday.
He also reportedly phoned up former wicket-keeper and captain Rashid Latif complaining that skipper Inzamamul Haq was not giving him the field placing he wanted. Rashid went on air on a local television channel to disclose this during the Test match that Pakistan lost by an innings and 131 runs. But Shaharyar praised Shoaib for his hard work and commitment to cricket. "I have been with him on two tours and have had no problem whatsoever." Shoaib claimed three wickets for 47 runs off the 21.2 overs he bowled in the match.
Meanwhile, officials of the Anti Corruption Unit of the ICC monitoring the series had found no wrongdoing of any sort. "I spoke to them informally and they have found no evidence of betting or match-fixing," Shaharyar added.
The PCB chief said that the cricket board will also consider seeking the services of coaches for different cricketing departments. "We may ask Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis and other top bowlers to give tips to the current lot of players."
Pakistan batsmen, he thought should take a leaf out of Rahul Dravid's book. "He batted for two days and not even once did he flash wildly as our batsmen do so often." Dravid scored a career-best 270 in the first innings, firing India to a massive 600 all out, a total that cornered Pakistan.
Of the wayward home bowlers, Shaharyar said that being professionals, it was up to them to set their line and length right. "If young India bowlers like (Irfan) Pathan and (Lakshmipathy) Balaji can bowl so well, why can't they."
