ICC refuses to treat Shoaib as special case

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Wednesday spurned Pakistan Cricket Board's request to treat Shoaib Akhtar as special case.

"Having discussed your request with the ICC President (Malcolm Gray), I am unable to agree to treat this as a special case outside the carefully established process to deal with matters of this kind," ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in a hard-hitting statement to Dawn.

His reaction came after the PCB publicized its four-page request, signed by director Brig Munawwar Rana, on its official website.

The PCB had argued that since the abnormality in Shoaib's bowling limb gives the impression of a semi-throwing motion, it was a special case in which the ICC needed to go through the details of the University of Western Australia report instead of invoking Stage Two.

Shoaib was reported for the third time inside two years during the Sharjah Cup where Denis Lindsay raised unsubstantiated "concerns" on Shoaib's bowling action.

The game's controlling body further said although it had appointed Michael Holding to work as Shoaib's advisor, it could not and would not force Shoaib or the PCB to utilize his services.

"If the PCB formally declines to comply with the Stage Two process, the ICC would notify all umpires and referees of that decision.

"This would effectively conclude Stage Two and Shoaib could continue to play, having forfeited the opportunity to work with one of the world's greatest and most knowledgeable fast bowlers." However, the risk in declining the option of a bowling advisor would mean an instant one-year suspension if Shoaib was reported again.

Originally Holding is to work with Shoaib for three months and has to submit his report to the ICC and the PCB by Feb 7.

The PCB had refused to accept Holding claiming that it had no funds to sponsor the great West Indian's visit to Pakistan for such a long duration.

The PCB this year suffered losses to the tune of $30million in the backdrop of cancellation of Indian and New Zealand tours.

Speed said the International Cricket Council had revised its process for dealing with bowlers with suspect actions on the objections by the PCB after Shoaib was first reported during the Perth Test in December 1999.

Speed said the new three stage process was introduced in December 2000, with the full support of all members, including the PCB.

"Having expressed concern over the old process and supported the change to the new regime, it is very disappointing to find that the PCB is now querying the implementation of Stage Two with regard to Shoaib," Speed said.

The official said the ICC or any other board was not bound by the internal decisions of the PCB which had cleared Shoaib this April on the basis of a report compiled by Western Australia.

"It is self evident that a finding by the PCB in April 2001 that its bowler's action is not illegal, does not guarantee that it will always be so. Clearly, the ICC and other Boards are not bound by the internal decisions of the PCB."

The Australian added: "A positive finding under Stage 1 of the process is not a licence to throw. Every bowler's action is open to continual scrutiny and review and this is clearly catered for by Stages Two and Three of the process".

Speed said reporting or calling of bowlers had historically been a highly charged and sensitive issue.

"One of the major objectives of the new system is to take a much less confrontational approach to the matter and to maximise the chances of a player alleged to have an illegal action to be rehabilitated and stay in the game.

"The International Cricket Council also has a wider duty to protect the interests of the game and the players. This extends to players alleged to have an illegal action as well as those who have to bat against bowlers with allegedly illegal actions."