ICC okays Shoaib for tri-series

Dalmiya explained, “Sir Clyde Walcott, the chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, and I believe that since bouncers are not used in one-day cricket, as they are called no ball, it would be best to permit Shoaib to play for Pakistan in the series, while continuing the remedial coaching to be conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).” The decision was taken after Dalmiya and Sir Walcott had a telephonic conversation. Dalmiya said that further footage would be taken in this series under the supervision of referee Cammie Smith and the panel would have a second review ofShoaib’s action prior to the Pakistan-Lanka Test series in Pakistan in February-March.“There are two kinds of cricket Test and one-dayers. Shoaib has to correct himself for the Test series,” he added.

Describing the ICC’s decision on Shoaib as a “typical one” under a new situation, Dalmiya said, “ICC does not want to destroy a player. It rather wants the game to be played in the fairest manner.”

To a query as why Australian umpires were particularly harsh on Asian crickters as Sunil Gavaskar accused in an article recently, Dalmiya said the Little Master should raise the issue at the appropriate forum.
AKHTAR IN PERTH: Meanwhile, Akhtar is undergoing medical treatment in Perth and was not named in the side for the first match. Akhtar had earlier in the day expressed a desire to return to Pakistan. The bowler, receiving medical treatment on his troublesome shoulder in Perth, had planned to return home in the next couple of days.
AKHTAR CAN’T CHUCK, says akram: Earlier in the day,Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram slammed ICC, arguing it had done an “injustice” to Shoaib Akhtar by banning him for chucking. He said it was simply impossible for the young fast bowler to throw his deliveries. “You can’t run in from the sightscreen and bowl at 100mph and chuck. You can’t. It’s impossible,” Akram said in Brisbane.

“It is a wrong definition. ICC has to look into it. If somebody has a bent arm there (demonstrating with his hand stretched back) it is not chucking. Chucking is you stop and throw. That is chucking,” the Pakistan captain said. Akram also came to the defence of Brett Lee. “People like Shoaib and Lee should be playing cricket instead of sitting in the dressing room,” he said.