Umpires were not investigating Shoaib's bowling action

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today issued the following statement in response to media reports that the umpires in this week's televised tour match between Derbyshire and Pakistan had asked to see video footage of Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action.

Alan Fordham, ECB Operations Manager (First Class), said: "Sky invited the on-pitch umpires, Peter Willey and Tony Clarkson, and the third umpire Roy Palmer, to visit their production truck yesterday morning in order to study the new Skyscope technology applied to lbw decisions.

"During the course of their visit, the umpires saw TV clips of several bowlers including one delivery by Shoaib Akhtar. But it is wholly misleading to suggest that the umpires' visit to the Sky production truck was prompted by concerns about Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action. The umpires will not be making any mention of Shoaib Akhtar's action in their report on the match to the ECB."