Shaharyar directs umpires to report suspect actions

Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, has written to international and domestic umpires in the country, asking them to report bowlers with suspect actions. According to a report in The News, Shaharyar also provided umpires with a list of bowlers to observe, which included Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Riaz Afridi and Junaid Zia.

In recent times, a number of Pakistani bowlers at the international level have been reported for a suspect action and advised to undergo remedial measures. In an attempt to avoid similar situations in the future, Shaharyar asked umpires to correct bowlers before it was too late, and to do their job without fear of criticism.

While the ICC has put guidelines in place to define suspect actions, what has been notable is the reaction to umpires who report bowlers. In a recent case, Chris Broad, the match referee who reported Muttiah Muralitharan after Sri Lanka's series against Australia, came under attack for socialising with Australian cricketers. While the accusation was on a different charge, it was widely perceived as an attempt to put Broad under pressure.