KARACHI, Feb 1: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked match referee Ranjan Madugalle to look into alleged comments made by India coach Greg Chappell that stated he was concerned with paceman Shoaib Akhtar’s bowling action.

“We have written to the match referee asking him to find out if Chappell has made the comments attributed to him. We are taking this issue very seriously”, said a PCB official.

Earlier, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan confirmed the board was seeking clarification regarding Chappell’s views on the matter.

“We have seen these reports and we are trying to find out whether he has said these things,” PCB chief said.

“If he has implied anything about Shoaib’s action it is a violation of the ICC (International Cricket Council) code of conduct.”

A former Australian captain, Chappell was reported by an Indian television channel as saying that there was “something seriously different” about Shoaib’s action.

The comments came after Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble were both hit on the helmet by rising Shoaib deliverie in the third and final Test between the sides taking place in Karachi this week.

The Times Now channel claimed Chappell had told them he had seen a lot of people hit by Shoaib and that India could do without their players being hit like that.

“Even if something has been implied in any statement we will pursue it with the match referee,” PCB official said

“In 2004, our chief selector Wasim Bari made some comments about the umpires officiating in a international game involving Pakistan and he was reprimanded by the ICC for violation of code of conduct which applies to all players, team and board officials.”

The 30-year-old Shoaib has been reported three times for a suspect bowling action but was cleared to play first class cricket in 2001, after which he has not been reported again.

“Even if there is a problem with his action, there is a procedure outlined by the ICC and team officials can’t imply anything,” PCB chief added.—Reuters