How can a bowler end up playing international cricket if there were doubts over the legality of his action?
KARACHI: Recently, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan, while answering a question regarding off-spinner Bilal Asif’s suspect bowling action, admitted that it was the responsibility of domestic umpires, referees and others, to identify bowlers with questionable actions. He also said that the PCB earlier had doubts over Asif’s bowling action, but it was being hoped that the bend in his arm will not exceed the 15-degree limit.
My simple question to the chairman is, will you only admit mistakes over this issue after they have been highlighted or will you take serious action in this regard, like penalising domestic umpires and referees? How can a bowler end up playing international cricket if there were doubts over the legality of his action? The PCB must immediately build an International Cricket Council-accredited biomechanics laboratory, like the one in Chennai, India, where our players go to test their bowling actions, so that no Pakistani bowler has to face this issue at the international level.
Mubashir Mahmood
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2015.
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