RAWALPINDI, Dec 19: Pakistan paceman Shabbir Ahmed had been banned for one year by the ICC for a suspect bowling action while off-spinner Shoaib Malik was cleared, a top official said on Monday.

Salim Altaf, Director Cricket Operations of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the lanky paceman who was reported during the first Test against England at Multan, had been slapped with the ban on the recommendation of biomechanics expert Bruce Elliot.

Altaf said that the PCB would decide in due course if an appeal was to be made against the decision. “We have 14 days to do so but we will decide on it shortly.”

Malik, whose action was also under scrutiny escaped punishment and will continue to play. Both players were reported by on-field umpires Billy Bowden and Simon Taufel and TV umpire Asad Rauf.

The ICC had said earlier that the match officials had concerns over the bowlers’ actions during the first Test.

Both the bowlers were however premitted to play by the ICC pending the outcome of the analysis. But while Malik was selected post-Multan, Shabbir was not chosen.

It was the second instance that Shabbir who has taken 51 wickets in 10 Tests, was reported this year.

At Multan, he was playing his first Test after being cleared by ICC in October.

The 29-year-old had also been reported in 1998 and had to seek former West Indian paceman Michael Holding’s help in remodelling his action. Off-spinner Malik was last reported in October 2004.