Ban on fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed has ended

LAHORE: Pakistan fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed’s 12-month ban on playing international cricket expires yesterday (Tuesday). The bowler has promised to return to international cricket with a vengeance.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had imposed a one-year restriction over Shabbir on December 19 last year for an illegal bowling action. He is the first bowler in international cricket who was banned for an illegal action.
According to reports Shabbir, who was training under supervision of Pakistan’s former Test bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz, has corrected his bowling action. The fast bowler underwent bowling action tests at the University of Australia last month under prominent bio-mechanics expert Prof Bruce Elliot.
The expert in his report submitted to the cricket governing body ICC which has declared that the bowling action was correct.
“The ICC will formally inform in a day or two about lifting of the ban,” Pakistan Cricket Board Director Cricket Operations Saleem Altaf said.
The PCB selection committee has invited Shabbir in the conditioning camp for the upcoming South Africa cricket tour.
“I have not only improved my bowling action but constantly held practice that will help me an easy return to international cricket,” the fast bowler said.

Shabbir’s eligibility to play certain

KARACHI: Pakistan are almost sure their medium pacer Shabbir Ahmed will be eligible to play international cricket from December 20 after serving a 12-month ban over an illegal bowling action.
“We are 99 percent sure that Shabbir will be allowed to play international cricket by December 20 after getting reports that his action has been cleared by experts,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Dr Nasim Ashraf, told reporters here at the National Stadium on Sunday.
The lanky fast bowler underwent corrective measures in Pakistan and later went through biomechanics tests in Australia last month.
“According to preliminary reports we received from Professor Bruce Elliot, a biomechanics expert in Australia, Shabbir’s action has been cleared,” said Ashraf.
The PCB chief said that once he is eligible to play for Pakistan it would be up to Shabbir to prove his form and fitness ahead of the tour of South Africa scheduled to begin early next month.
Meanwhile, the bowler is set to be included in a pool of 22 players to be announced today by the national selection committee for the 2007 World Cup.