18 October 2004	Monday	03 Ramazan 1425

LAHORE, Oct 17: Pakistan off-spinner Shoaib Malik has been reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a suspect bowling action, an official said Sunday.

Malik was reported by Australian umpire Simon Taufel and Pakistan's Aleem Dar to the ICC match referee Jeff Crowe of New Zealand for a suspect bowling action during the tri-series final played here on Saturday.

"Pakistan team management has been conveyed the report," a Pakistan cricket official said. The 22-year old, who scored 260 runs and took seven wickets, was declared man of the tri-series tournament on Saturday.

Malik was first reported over his bowling action in Sharjah two years ago but he subsequently changed his action.

Pakistan's leading pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed have also come under scrutiny by the ICC for suspect actions.

Akhtar was finally cleared in 2001 after Australian University in Perth ruled that the bowler has a deformity in his bowling arm. Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi was the other Pakistani bowler who was also reported in 2000.-AFP