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The ICC today
confirmed that Pakistan bowler Shabbir Ahmed has been reported for a
suspected illegal bowling action by the match officials following
completion of the first Test match between West Indies and Pakistan in
Barbados today.
The report was made by on-field umpires David Shepherd and Darrell
Hair, the TV umpire, Basil Morgan, and the ICC Match Referee, Ranjan
Madugalle.
Mr Madugalle has informed both the ICC and the Pakistan team
management of the report, as per the ICC regulations governing the
reporting process.
"The match officials had concerns with the action used by the bowler
at certain stages during both innings when viewing it with the naked
eye. This assessment has led the team of officials to request the ICC
to commission a biomechanical report into the bowler's action in
accordance with the new process introduced earlier this year," said Mr
Madugalle.
The report will be handled under the ICC's recently revised bowling
review process. Mr Ahmed will now undergo independent analysis of his
action by a member of the ICC's panel of human movement specialists.
This will take place as soon as practically possible, and within a
maximum period of 21 days from receipt by the Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB) of formal notice of the report by the ICC, together with copies
of the relevant match tapes from the Barbados Test.
Within 14 days of the independent analysis being carried out, the
appointed specialist will supply the ICC with a written report
advising the outcome of the bio-mechanical assessment. This will
confirm whether the bowler's action falls within, or exceeds, the 15
degrees of permitted elbow straightening.
As soon as the specialist's independent assessment is received by the
ICC, a copy will be supplied to the PCB. Mr Ahmed will be allowed to
play international cricket up to this point, at the discretion of his
Board.
About the ICC illegal deliveries process
The new ICC process dealing with suspect bowling actions at
international level came into effect from 1 March 2005.
The original restructuring proposals were developed by a
highly-credentialed panel of former international cricketers,
including Aravinda de Silva, Angus Fraser, Michael Holding, Tony Lewis
and Tim May along with ICC General Manager - Cricket, David
Richardson.
These proposals were then endorsed by the ICC's Cricket Committee,
chaired by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, before being approved
by all Test playing countries at the ICC Chief Executives' Committee
in February this year.
The new regulations deal with the reality established during the ICC's
extensive research program, that most bowlers are likely to straighten
their arm to a level undetectable by the naked eye during the bowling
action.
The five key elements of the new regulations are:
1. An acceptance that the focus of the Law concerning illegal actions
is that it seeks to deal with the extension of the arm that is visible
to the naked eye.
2. All bowlers will be permitted to straighten their bowling arm up to
15 degrees, which has been established as the point at which any
straightening will become visible to the naked eye.
3. The introduction of a shorter, independent review process under the
central control of the ICC, with immediate suspensions for bowlers
found to have illegal actions.
4. The overhaul and standardisation of the bio-mechanical testing of
bowlers to ensure that all tests in all laboratories are consistent in
the way that they measure the degree of straightening.
5. Strengthening of the initiatives to deal with the issue at the
international and regional Under 19 level.
Recognising that bowling actions are subject to change during the
course of a career, no bowler will be 'cleared' after being reported.
Any player reported twice and proven to have an illegal action within
a two year period will be suspended from international cricket for a
minimum of 12 months.
In certain cases, reported bowlers may be allowed to play
international cricket with a warning not to bowl a specific type of
delivery that has been scientifically proven to exceed the 15 degree
limit.
Full details of the ICC process for reporting bowlers with suspected
illegal actions can be found in the Rules and Regulations section of
the ICC website at
www.icc-cricket.com. Clicking onto the Bowling Review section will
open a PDF of the process. |
