Malik to seek experts' advice

'Shoaib Malik's problem is very easy to sort out', says Bob Woolmer © Getty Images

Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan allrounder, will seek the opinion of biomechanics experts at the University of Western Australia with regard to his bowling action. Malik's action had come under scrutiny in October and the matter was reported to the International Cricket Council.

Malik sustained an injury to his right wrist on the current tour of Australia and didn't play in the one-day game against the Chairman's XI on Tuesday. As a result of the tendon strain, he was unable to take part in the team's fielding sessions at the WACA on Monday.

Malik's bowling action had come under the scanner in October 2002 when he was reported by Simon Taufel and Jeff Crowe, the match referee. That led to a review, and remodelling, of his action before Malik was cleared to play.

Under the existing procedures, Malik would have to work with human-movement specialists appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board before a full report is submitted to the ICC. However, Bob Woolmer felt that there was no serious problem with Malik's action and that it could be remedied with advice from Bruce Elliott or Daryl Foster, two of the human-movement specialists an the University of Western Australia.

"I know what the problem is," Woolmer told The News. "I spoke to the biomechanics chap in England and he told me what the problem is and it's very easy to sort out. No-one ever does it [bowl with a kink in the action] deliberately. It's just something that happens within his action."