Srinath in panel to assess Shabbir's appeal

The ICC has named Javagal Srinath, the former Indian fast bowler, in a five-member Bowling Review Group (BRG) that will assess the appeal against the one-year ban on Shabbir Ahmed, the Pakistan seamer. The hearing will take place in Dubai on January 21.

According to an ICC Media release, the group will be headed by Sir Oliver Popplewell and will also include Roshan Mahanama, an ICC match referee, Dick French, a former international umpire and Dr Marc Portus, human resource expert, besides Srinath. Saleem Altaf, PCB director, and Prof Bruce Elliott will also attend the BRG meeting. Altaf will represent Shabbir while Elliott will make a presentation on his independent assessment of the bowler.

Shabbir is the first player to be banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months after being reported for the second time in two days during the first Test against England at Multan last year.

The decision of the BRG will be communicated to Shabbir through the PCB within 48 hours of the hearing being adjourned. The decision of the BRG will be final and binding. The BRG will consider video evidence from the Multan match, the match officials' report from the Test and an independent assessment of the player's action.