No one but ICC can help me: Shoaib

Published November 25, 2001

SYDNEY, Nov 24: Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar said Saturday he was confident he would make a quick return to Test cricket.

Shoaib made his debut with Mosman in the Sydney grade cricket competition Saturay and is expected to play seven matches as he attempts to get a career dogged by chucking allegations and a misconduct charge back on the rails.

“Basically it’s not acceptable,” Shoaib said of the International Cricket Council’s decision to employ West Indies’ former paceman Michael Holding to study his suspect action.

“It’s got nothing to do with my arm. My arm is basically abnormal and my joints won’t move the way I want them to move because of hyper-extension in the elbow.

“No-one can change it. It’s got nothing to do with the coaching. I’ve had a word with Dennis (Lillee) and what could be better than that?”

“I can learn a lot from Michael Holding but he can’t modify my action and he can’t modify my joints,” Shoaib said. “No-one can change it.”

Shoaib, rated the fastest bowler during the 1999 World Cup, is expected to be available for Mosman for seven matches before Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh and the West Indies in 2002.

The fast bowler, who has taken 46 wickets in 16 Tests, said he was confident of overcoming injuries and the chucking controversy to break back into the Pakistan team.

“I will just wait and see what the ICC is going to say to me and what they come out with,” he said.

“It’s very easy to understand. I’ve got hyper-mobile joints and ... no-one can help it. I can’t even help myself and nothing can be modified.”

Shoaib, nicknamed the ‘Rawalpindi Express’, said he was tired after taking 2-18 off 13 overs in Mosman’s two-day match.—AFP

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