ICC confirms Shabbir Ahmed can resume international cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has written to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirming its fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed can resume bowling at international level.

That permission is granted on the basis he uses an action consistent to that used in an independent analysis of his action, undertaken in September.

After forwarding the report on Shabbir's bowling action to the PCB, ICC General Manager - Cricket, David Richardson, re-stated the ICC's policy in relation to suspected illegal bowling actions.

"The findings of the report mean that Shabbir can resume bowling in international cricket," said Mr Richardson. "However, everyone needs to be aware that no bowler is ever `cleared' as they could simply revert to bad habits.

"All bowlers are subject to further reporting if the match officials are of the view that they have concerns about whether a delivery or deliveries conform to the Laws of Cricket when observed with the naked eye."

Shabbir was suspended from bowling in Tests and one-day internationals in July after his action was independently assessed following his reporting during the Barbados Test match against the West Indies in May.

He underwent remedial work with a team of PCB coaches led by Bob Woolmer and then submitted to biomechanical analysis of his action at the University of Western Australia in September.

That analysis found Shabbir's mean action to be within the ICC's prescribed 15 degree level of tolerance and also highlighted improvement in his bowling action since he was reported.

The analysis conducted by a team led by Professor Bruce Elliott did, however, identify areas of potential concern which, in line with the Procedure for the Review of Bowlers with Suspect Bowling Actions, have been passed on to the PCB and Shabbir.

The PCB and Shabbir were reminded that should he bowl with an action that employs any delivery that is considered by the match officials, using the naked eye, to be above the levels of tolerance, there is a possibility he will be reported again and may even be called.

If such a situation arose, Shabbir would be expected to submit to a further independent analysis of his action.

Should that independent analysis find his action to be outside the ICC's prescribed 15 degree level of tolerance he would again be suspended. If that suspension occurred within two years of the starting date of the previous suspension (13 July 2005), he would be automatically banned from bowling in international cricket for a minimum of one year.

Full details of the Procedure for the Review of Bowlers with Suspect Bowling Actions are available in the rules and regulations section of the ICC website, www.icc-cricket.com