PCB to protest ICC: Waqar replaces suspended Shoaib for triangular
Karachi, Dec 31: Waqar Younis was named to replace Shoaib Akhtar who was suspended from international cricket by the ICC after its advisory panel ruled his bowling actionillegal
01-Jan-2000
Karachi, Dec 31: Waqar Younis was named to replace Shoaib Akhtar who
was suspended from international cricket by the ICC after its advisory
panel ruled his bowling actionillegal.
Waqar is expected to fly out to Perth on Saturday to the join the
cricket team that reached there on Wednesday for the tri-nation series
starting from Jan 9. Immediately after Waqar's arrival, Shoaib will be
released from the squad.
The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia
told Dawn on telephone on Friday that he had received the
International Cricket Council (ICC) findings on Shoaib Akhtar late on
Thursday evening.
"At the moment, Shoaib has been ruled out from the triangular series
in Australia. But he will be provided with the best possible
facilities to rectify his action and become eligible for selection for
the series against Sri Lanka in February" said the general from
Mangla.
Sri Lanka arrive here on Feb 8 to play three Tests and as many one-day
internationals.
The general minced no words in expressing his disguise over the ICC
decision. He said the PCB would challenge the outcome of the advisory
panel and would also request to review the decision.
"We would request the ICC to review its decision but will protest to
Sir Clyde Walcott (chairman of the advisory panel) on the judgement
which we feel is not fair."
"Questions have been raised over Shoaib's action while bowling a
particular delivery (bouncer). Now how can the ICC put Shoaib's career
on line because of one delivery. Besides, his disqualification from
the Australian series is also contestable because bouncers are
no-balled in one-day cricket," the general argued.
For Waqar Younis, it was a welcome surprise on the eve of a new
millennium. The paceman was facing heavy cash penalty, if not
suspension, for accusing his long-time bowling partner and now captain
Wasim Akram of victimizing him and settling old scores.
Younis had made the allegations after he was ignored for the second
half of the Australian tour after being a member of the team that
toured the kangrooland for three-Tests series which it lost 3-0.
Younis has 284 wickets from 173 one-day internationals.
Lt-Gen Tauqir said: "Waqar's selection was a unanimous decision of the
PCB advisory panel. Besides, we are announcing his name after
informing the tour management in Australia."
The PCB chairman said no disciplinary action will be taken against
Waqar after he submitted an unconditional apology.
Also considered for selection were pacemen Shahid Nazir and Mohammad
Akram. Akram had toured for the Test series and also played in the
Perth Test where he took five wickets. Shahid last played for
Pakistan about two years ago in Sri Lanka.
While the ICC advisory panel on illegal deliveries found Shoaib
Akhtar's bowling action illegal, former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad
had his own views.
"No matter what the ICC says, I believe that Shoaib Akhtar has a
perfect bowling action," he said in support of the 24-year old pacer.
Miandad said what the ICC advisory panel didn't consider was the point
where Shoaib Akhtar was releasing the delivery. He observed that the
members appeared more interested in watching the bend in the bowler's
arm "which can be because of a fracture in childhood."
Aqib Javed, whose seven for 37 is the best bowling figures in one-day
cricket, slammed match referee John Reid "for inconsistent
observations."
Aqib said Reid should have questioned Shoaib's action in South Africa
where he was the match referee for the three-Test series between
Pakistan and South Africa "and Shoaib figured in all the three Tests."
Reid was also the match referee in the World Cup semi-finals against
New Zealand but didn't raise the issue until the third Test at Perth
where controversial umpire Darrell Hair and Peter Willey were the
umpires.
Jalaluddin, who recorded the first hat-trick of one-day cricket, added
spice to the controversy when he said the ICC should conduct its own
inhouse investigation to find if Reid was correct or other match
referees who officiate matches in which Shoaib played were correct.
Shoaib's action has been declared illegal after he has played in 13
Tests and 29 one-dayers, including 10 in the World Cup.
It is more than a coincidence that first Sri Lankan off-spinner
Muttiah Muralitharan was called for throwing in Australia and now
Shoaib Akhtar's career is in jeopardy after making his first tour of
Down Under