Pakistan's Ahmed on report for suspect bowling action

The ICC today confirmed that Pakistan fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed is on report for a suspect bowling action.

The report was made by Umpires Hair and Bowden after reviewing footage of Ahmed's action taken during the fifth and final ODI between New Zealand and Pakistan in Wellington, New Zealand on 17 January 2004.

Match Referee, Chris Broad, has informed both the ICC and the player's team management of the report as per the ICC regulations governing the reporting process said ICC General Manager, Cricket, David Richardson.

"The umpires asked to review footage of Ahmed's action from the match and after seeing this footage decided to report the bowler to the ICC," said Richardson.

"This issue now comes under the ICC's regulations dealing with this matter and over the next six weeks Ahmed and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will have the opportunity to work on any areas of concern. Ahmed will be able to continue to play during this time."

The ICC's regulations detail a two-stage process for bowlers reported for suspect actions.

The player is now under Stage One of the process, which allows him to continue to play international cricket while working with specialist advisors to be appointed by his home Board and a human movement specialist from an ICC specialist panel to review his bowling action. This stage will last up to six weeks.

At the end of this time, a detailed report will be compiled by the PCB and submitted to the ICC. This will then be circulated to all ICC Match Referees and Elite Panel umpires for information and reference.

No further report can be lodged within this six week period, however, the bowler remains subject to being "called" on the field by an umpire in accordance with the laws of the game.

Stage Two of the process applies if, after the six week period expires, a second report is lodged.

A formal hearing is then held by the ICC's Bowling Review Group (BRG) and the player may be banned from the game for 12 months or until the BRG is satisfied that the concerns with his action are rectified before the expiration of this time.

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