ICC seeks details of Shoaib's bowling action

Karachi, Jan 4: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Tuesday that the game's governing body has sought details of the facts regarding Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action.

The PCB chairman Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia, in a press conference, said the summery has been sought by ICC chairman Jaghmohan Dalmiya of India.

"I had a detailed discussion with him on telephone on Tuesday afternoon. And he has asked us to dispatch our point of view after which he would request the advisory panel on illegal deliveries to review its decision on Shoaib Akhtar," the general told scribes.

He said Dalmiya's reaction came after the PCB lodged a protest with the ICC on Friday challenging the suspension of Shoaib Akhtar from international cricket. He, however, said the ICC advisory panel has not responded to Pakistan's protest as yet.

The general said the PCB has pleaded the case in the background that three of the nine members didn't attend the meeting and Pakistan's representative was barred from taking part in decision-making because he was an official of the team.

"After Imran Khan was not available, we recommended the name of Intikhab Alam. But the team manager was not allowed to takepart when the advisory panel was taking the decision against Shoaib.

"We have protested to the ICC that when we recommended Intikhab's name to it, why it (ICC) didn't inform the PCB that Intikhab will not be allowed to sit when the panel would be deciding the fate of the fast bowler," Lt-Gen Tauqir said.

He added that he told the ICC chairman that Shoaib Akhtar has been suspended after playing 13 Tests and 26 one-day internationals. "On Jaghmohan Dalmiya's advise, we have enlistedthe names of all the umpires and match referees who officiatedthe matches in which Shoaib played.

"The summary of our argument will be sent on Wednesday," hesaid, adding: "But the ICC chief has asked not to expect the decision in the next 24 hours."

The PCB chairman said when Intikhab Alam was recommended to the advisory panel, the board never thought in its wildest dreams that Shoaib Akhtar would be suspended.

He, however, admitted that looking back at things he feels that any of the fast bowlers could have been a better choice to attend the teleconference that was held on Dec 30.

The PCB boss condemned the statement of Shafqat Rana saying itwas an immature observation coming from a senior PCB official. Rana told Radio Australia on Monday that the decision to suspendShoaib was racially based.

"I don't agree that there was an element of racism. Since wecome under the ICC umbrella, we are bound to accept itsdecisions. We can challenge them (decisions) but there arecertain procedures that need to be followed," he said.

Ramiz Raja, coordinator of the five-man PCB advisory council,dispelled impressions that the committee was anti-Wasim Akram.

"We are here with an open mind. We have nothing against anycricketer. Our objective is to promote cricket and do what isbest for the team and the country," he remarked.

There is a long history of unpleasant relationship between Raja, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram.

The general said the advisory council will be meeting again on Jan 18 in which various decisions will be announced. The restructuring of the domestic cricket will be one of the items on the agenda.

Raja said the board was considering to start domestic cricket under floodlights. He said it was necessary to draw crowd to improve domestic cricket.

Raja said in this connection, the board will be signing a deal with Phillips on Jan 31 for the installation of floodlights atthe National Stadium. He said the lights would be operational before the start of the 2000-2001 season.

The general said he was particularly unhappy with the state of affairs in Karachi cricket. He said former Test stars have been sidelined and only private individuals were organizing cricket.

"I think Moin Khan was the last player from Karachi who played Test. It is very saddening," he said.

To make the records straight, Shahid Afridi was the last Karachi batsmen to make his Test debut last season against Australia at Karachi.

Earlier in the day, the advisory council comprising Javed Miandad, Ramiz Raja and Nasimul Ghani thanked former chairman of selectors Salahuddin Ahmad for his services. Salahuddin's committee was abolished last week.