Shabbir reported for suspect action

Shabbir Ahmed, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action, for the third time in his career, following the end of the first Test match between West Indies and Pakistan in Barbados.

The report was made by the onfield umpires David Shepherd and Darrell Hair, the TV umpire Basil Morgan, and the match referee Ranjan Madugalle. Madugalle has informed both the ICC and the Pakistan team management of the report.

Madugalle said: "The match officials had concerns with the action used by the bowler at certain stages during both innings when viewing it with the naked eye. This assessment has led the team of officials to request the ICC to commission a biomechanical report into the bowler's action in accordance with the new process introduced earlier this year."

The report will be handled under the ICC's recently revised bowling-review process. Shabbir will now undergo independent analysis of his action by a member of the ICC's panel of human-movement specialists. This will take place as soon as practically possible, and within a maximum period of 21 days from receipt by the Pakistan Cricket Board of formal notice of the report by the ICC, together with copies of the relevant match tapes from the Barbados Test.

Within 14 days of the independent analysis being carried out, the appointed specialist will supply the ICC with a written report advising the outcome of the biomechanical assessment. This will confirm whether the bowler's action falls within, or exceeds, the 15 degrees of permitted elbow-straightening.

Shabbir will be allowed to play international cricket up to this point, at the discretion of his board. He was previously reported for a suspect action after his first ODI, in Toronto during September 1999, and then in January 2004, following an ODI against New Zealand at Wellington.