Hafeez reported for suspected illegal action by ICC Media Release

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Player:

Mohammad Hafeez

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DateLine: 19th January 2005

 

The ICC today confirmed that Pakistan bowler, Mohammad Hafeez, had been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action by the match officials following the ODI game between Pakistan and the West Indies in Brisbane, Australia today.

 

The report was made by on-field umpires Rudi Koertzen and Peter Parker, the third umpire, Simon Taufel, and the Match Referee,Chris Broad.

 

Mr Broad has informed both the ICC and the Pakistan team management of the report as per the ICC regulations governing the reporting process.

 

This issue now comes under the ICC's bowling review regulations which stipulate that over the next six weeks an expert biomechanist from the ICC's Approved List should be appointed to work with the bowler to clearly identify and address any flaws that may occur during the delivery action.

 

At the end of that time the ICC will be provided with a specialist report on the remedial action, if any is required, that has taken place. This report will be circulated to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees for their information.

 

A note on recommendations for the review of process for dealing with illegal actions.

 

The way that international cricket deals with illegal actions is currently under review following recommendations put forward by a panel of former international cricketers.

 

At its meeting in Melbourne on 3-4 February 2005 the ICC Chief Executives' Committee will consider changes proposed by Aravinda de Silva, Angus Fraser, Michael Holding, Tony Lewis and Tim May along with the former South African vice-captain and ICC General Manager - Cricket, David Richardson.

 

The proposals concern all aspects of the issue of suspected illegal bowling actions including the revision of the content and timeframe of the process, confirmation of the intent of the Law and an adjustment of the degree of elbow extension (straightening of the arm from the flexed position) in the bowling action.

 

The proposals also include the complete standardisation of the review process. This would take the review process out of the hands of the player's home Board and bring the responsibility for testing under the central control of the ICC.

 

The recommendations have been supported by the members of the ICC's Cricket Committee chaired by former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar.

 

ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, said that the recommendations needed to be properly debated by the ICC's 10 Full Member Chief Executives and three representatives of the Associate Member nations.

 

"The information and the recommendations provided by the Cricket Committee are valuable and important but this matter is still to be properly considered by the Chief Executives of the Test-playing countries," said Mr Speed.

 

"At this stage these are only recommendations and Mr Singh's action will therefore be reviewed on the same basis as all of the other bowling actions that have been reported in 2004."

 

(January 2004)