Shabbir vows to fight ban

Shabbir Ahmed says the support of his team-mates has been vital after he was banned for 12 months © Getty Images

Shabbir Ahmed is determined to fight the 12-month ban from international cricket which has thrown his career into jeopardy. The PCB had filed an appeal against the original ruling, but a bowling review group upheld the decision at a hearing in Dubai.

"I am very disappointed that the appeal has been turned down," Shabbir told Reuters. "But after seeing the strong support of the Pakistan board and my team-mates I have decided I will fight on to get my action cleared.

"A year is a long time but hopefully if the board can review my action again before the start of the next season I am confident it will be cleared."

The PCB's director of cricket operations, Saleem Altaf, accompanied Shabbir to the hearing and said the board was exploring all possibilities to try and get the ban reduced.

"We had basically asked the BRG to review his action in three months time instead of keeping him out of the game, which is his livelihood, for a year," Altaf explained. "And from what I understand, the BRG didn't accept our appeal on technical grounds, that it does not have discretionary powers to lift or reduce the ban under present rules."

He confirmed the board may seek legal advice on the matter as Shabbir cannot file another appeal. "Obviously he is very upset and disappointed but I have told him we will continue to support him and there is still quite a bit of cricket left in him."