LAHORE, Nov 29: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will decide on Dec 9 whether to suspend Pakistan paceman Shabbir Ahmed for 12 months for a suspect bowling action.

The ICC has referred Shabbir’s case to Australian biomechanics expert Bruce Elliott with instructions to send a final report by Dec 9.

Interestingly, the same expert had cleared Shabbir’s action in September this year when he was called in the West Indies in May this year. He was again called by field umpires Billy Bowden and Simon Taufel in the first Test against England in Multan this month along with all-rounder Shoaib Malik.

The umpires had specially objected to the deliveries the bowler sent down from the third day of the play.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director cricket operations Salim Altaf told reporters on Tuesday that he had received the ICC’s letter.

The ICC had asked Elliott to examine the footage of the Multan Test and compare it with those which he had used to clear Shabbir in September.

Salim said that according to the rules if the expert sent a negative report, Shabbir would face 12-month suspension from the international cricket as he had been called twice in a year.

However, the bowler would be allowed to bowl in the domestic cricket to enable him rectify his action, he said.

Salim said that the ICC is likely to announce its decision on the same day (Dec 9) but the difference of timing might delay it till Dec 10.

Meanwhile, off-spinner Shoaib Malik will travel to Australia to be examined by the same expert.