20 February 2005	Sunday	10 Muharram 1426

LONDON, Feb 19: International Cricket Council (ICC) is still awaiting a report on Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh's attempt to re-model his bowling action.

Harbhajan was reported to ICC by match referee Chris Broad after a Test in Bangladesh last December.

He has been working with bio-mechanics expert Bruce Elliott and Indian board is due to submit a report on his progress by Feb 25. India are, however, free to play him in next month's series Against Pakistan.

Harbhajan, whose action first came under scrutiny in 1998, has taken 189 Test wickets and 117 in limited overs internationals. Although Harbhajan's full repertoire is subject to current investigation, it is his doosra - a ball which spins away from a right-handed batsman - which is main focus of his remedial work.

Former Indian Test bowlers Ravi Shastri, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and Javagal Srinath are also on experts panel, who will report back to Indian board (BCCI). When ICC receive a copy of their findings, it will be circulated to all members of elite panel of umpires and match referees.

Under current rules, spin bowlers are only permitted a five degree flexing of their arm when bowling, with 10 degrees for seamers. From March 1, however, a 15 degree limit will become legal norm, no matter what pace of bowler. ICC says 15 degrees has been "established as the point at which any straightening will become visible to naked eye." -PPI