ICC tele-conference: Shabbir records statement

Islamabad, Nov 11: Pakistan's 23-year-old pacer Shabbir Ahmed assisted by Col (R) Noushad Ali on Thursday evening recorded his statement during a 15-minute International Cricket Council Technical Committee's tele-conference at Islamabad.

The convener of the nine-member ICC Technical Committee, Clive Hitchcock, also questioned what the Pakistan Cricket Board has done between the period after officially receiving the complaint.

It was stated that the board had provided the "disheartened young cricketer" with technical support besides pleading his case from all angles.

Noushad maintained that the 20-minute recording of Shabbir's bowling at Sharjah had also been sent to the ICC but there was nothing in the video to slap such a harsh penalty on the young cricketer who has just entered the international arena.

It was stated that the ICC penalty was based on the complaint registered during the Toronto Series but since the technical committee only meets at a specific time therefore the timing of the ICC ruling coincided with the announcement of Pakistan squad for Australia.

The 16-member Pakistan's Australia-bound team was announced from Sharjah on Oct 20 and the ICC committee announced its decision on Oct 21. Shabbir Ahmed was replaced by Waqar Younis who was part of the four-member reserve list.

The brief question-answer tele-conference took place at Col (Rtd) Noushad Ali's house.

The final decision was expected from the ICC committee tomorrow. Javed Burki is representing Pakistan in the nine-member Technical Committee