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| January 22, 2006 | Sunday | Zilhaj 21, 1426 |
ICC upholds ban on pacer Shabbir
LONDON, Jan 21: An independent bowling review group (BRG) has upheld Pakistan pace bowler Shabbir Ahmed’s 12-month ban from international cricket after a hearing in Dubai.
“We have decided the player had an illegal bowling action and the suspension of the player is to be maintained. This is the unanimous view of the BRG,” said the BRG in an International Cricket Council (ICC) statement on Saturday.
“While it is clear a laboratory test can never fully replicate match conditions, the regulations provide for match conditions to be simulated as best as possible.
“We take the view the laboratory test was carried out as fairly and properly as it should be.”
The 29-year-old Shabbir was the first player to receive a 12-month suspension under the revised ICC bowling review regulations after his action was reported twice in 2005.
The BRG, which included former India pace bowler Javagal Srinath, watched video evidence from the Multan test against England in November after which Shabbir was reported again.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would continue to support Shabbir.
“Obviously it is very disappointing his ban has not been lifted,” said a PCB official.
“The experts must have their reasons for upholding the ban but we are not going to give up on him.”
The PCB had brought in former Test seamer Sarfraz Nawaz to help work on correcting Shabbir’s action in recent weeks.
Shabbir, a six-foot five-inch seamer, played 10 Tests and 32 one-day internationals, with Test-best figures of five for 48.
He has been reported four times since making his international debut in 1999.
The amended regulations, introduced in March 2005, stipulate that a player who is found to have been bowling with an illegal action twice within two years will face an automatic 12-month ban from international cricket.
The decision of the BRG is final and binding.—Reuters
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