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Woolmer for more clarity on bowling action
Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer wants more clarity in the rules after his two bowlers were reported for suspect bowling actions.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:53 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Faisalabad: Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer wants more clarity in the rules after his two bowlers were reported for suspect bowling actions at the end of first Test against England. Fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed and off-spinner Shoaib Malik were reported by on-field umpires Billy Bowden and Australia's Simon Taufel along with television umpire Asad Rauf after Pakistan won the first Test by 22 runs at Multan last Wednesday. "After getting cleared last month, Shabbir Ahmed has to go to the laboratory again," Woolmer said today. Under the current International Cricket Council (ICC) process of dealing with illegal bowling actions, a bowler can straighten his arm by 15 degrees at the time of delivery. If he exceeds that, his action is liable to be questioned. A bowler reported for a suspect action goes for biomechanical analysis, and if cleared he is allowed to bowl. If a bowler is reported twice within two years he is banned from international cricket for 12 months. In October this year, the Pakistan Cricket Board sent Ahmed to a biomechanical laboratory in Australia from where he got a clean chit from experts. "A bowler goes to a biomechanic laboratory after his action is questioned, spends time there to get cleared and when he comes back to the field he is called immediately. That's why I am saying it needs a review. "We need a bit of clarification on the suspect action report," he added. Pakistan is likely not to risk Ahmed for tomorrow's second Test, but may retain Malik in the final eleven because he is also the opening batsman. "It was unfortunate and a blow. Ahmed gives us the balance with different type of angels of delivery. I think tall bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, just to name a few, are successful. "But Malik is certainly part of our team," Woolmer said. (AP)
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