Prasanna awaits ICC call on Akhtar's action

The former Indian off-spinner and new nominee on the ICC panel on illegal deliveries EAS Prasanna has not been contacted so far by the ICC to decide the fate of Pakistan's pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

Speaking exclusively to this correspondent over telephone from his Bangalore residence on Sunday, Prasanna said "I am yet to hear from the ICC on Akhtar's suspected bowling action. Generally it is a practice to discuss such issues on satellite aided tele-conference or to hold a meeting at one particular place and have discussions collectively after observing the footage". However, considering the time difference among the countries, a tele-conference debate is unlikely.

Akhtar was allowed by the ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya to play in the Carlton and United triangular series in Australia, thereby over-ruling a suggested ban on December 30 by the ICC's advisory panel on illegal deliveries which debarred Akhtar from playing in Australia for an indefinite period on grounds of a suspect action while bowling the short-pitched deliveries. But Dalmiya reverted the ban and allowed him to play in the triangular series against Australia and India. He at the same time made it clear that the bowler's action would have to be reviewed again by the ICC before the Test series against Sri Lanka starting next month.

Prasanna was non-committal on Akhtar's bowling action. "I am yet to see the video clippings. It is not fair on my part to comment on his action without seeing the footage."

According to Prasanna, the panel's suggestions would be conveyed to the ICC who incidentally will recommend the measures to the Pakistan Board. "It will be up to the PCB to announce our verdict" added Prasanna.

The ICC's cricket operations manager Clive Hitchcock is likely to have briefed ICC's stand on Akhtar's status to the Sri Lankan authorities last week. Hitchcock has been assigned the job of co-ordinating with all panel members and boards.