PCB hopeful of Shabbir comeback

LAHORE—Pakistan Cricket Board is hopeful that pace bowler Shabbir Ahmad will be able to resume his international cricket career after completing a one year ban as the bowler has corrected his suspect bowling action.
This was stated by Chairman, PCB, Dr. Naseem Ashraf at a news conference here on Sunday after a meeting of the ad-hoc committee here at Gadaffi stadium. Also present were members of the ad-hoc committee, Moneen Afzal, Salim Altaf, Imtiaz Ahmad and Director PCB Media, Dr. Ahsan Hameed Malik.
PCB Chief said a lot of work was made to correct the bowling action of Shabbir under the supervision of PCB technical committee which is confident that now the bowler’s action is without any legal hindrance under the regulation of international cricket council.
Shabbir reported for suspect bowling action was banned for one year on December 17 last year which will expire next month. “We are video taping bowling of Shabbir which will be sent for an assessment of his action to a leading expert Dr Bruce Eliot of Western University Australia.” Besides that, “Shabbir will also be flying to Australia on November 21 and Dr. Bruce will examine him in action to submit his report and recommendations to PCB”, he said.
PCB Chief said PCB has formed a committee headed by Mueen Afzal (Chairmanj), Ali Raza, Imtiaz Ahmad and Salim Altaf as its members which will put up its recommendations in the next Board meeting being held on December 17 at Karachi.
“We want to do something for the welfare of ex-cricketers by giving them pension and financial assistance because they have served the cause of cricket in their golden days”, said Dr. Naseem Ashraf.
He said a national cricket seminar/workshop to devise future strategy relating to Pakistan cricket would be held here on November 17 in which presentations would be made by PCB Director Salim Altaf and coach Bob Woolmer.
The seminar will also be attended by former Pakistan captains, people relating to the game and mediamen to contribute suggestions for lifting the overall performance of the team in the World Cup and for securing Pakistan’s future in the game, the Chief PCB said.
He said the seminar would find ways and means for helping the team to improve its performance and to make it a fighting unit for putting up its best in the Cup.
PCB Chief praised the so far performance of the team in the 1st test against West Indies and said the team is united and its morale is up. Answering a question, he said, the anti-doping appeal commission will be starting its preliminary meeting on November 14 to review the cases of banned bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Muhammad Asif.
“I would appeal to the commission to conclude the review as soon as possible”, he said. Dr. Naseem said draft of the new constitution of the PCB has been forwards to its Patron who will approve it for its implementation. “I hope by January 1, 2007, it will be implemented”.
He dispelled an impression that he ever held Pakistan captain Inzamam ul haq responsible for the Oval test facsio. “Umpire Darrell Hair was responsible for what happened at Oval, I still believe it Inzamam own decision not to return to the field with the team”, he said.
No decision has yet been taken, he said, about holding of number of matches between the co-hosts of the 2011 world cup, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
“It is wrong to say so that there are some differences on this issue among the hosts countries, no decision has yet been taken on this issue, all the hosts countries will be meeting on December 11 in New Delhi to sort out necessary details regarding hosting the Cup jointly”, he said.—Agencies