Bowling Review Group upholds Shabbir Ahmed suspension

An independent Bowling Review Group (BRG) has today upheld Pakistan bowler Shabbir Ahmed's 12-month ban from international cricket after a hearing in Dubai.

The BRG comprising Sir Oliver Popplewell (Chairman), Roshan Mahanama (current Emirates Elite Panel Referee), Javagal Srinath (ex-international player), Dick French (ex-international umpire) and Dr Marc Portus (human movement specialist) delivered its decision to Mr Ahmed and PCB Chief Executive Officer Salim Altaf shortly after the hearing at the ICC office in Dubai.

The judgment of the BRG said: "We have decided that the Player had an illegal bowling action and that the suspension of the Player is to be maintained. This is the unanimous view of the BRG.

"While it is clear that a laboratory test can never fully replicate match conditions the Regulations provide for match conditions to be simulated as best as possible.

The Bowling Review Group (l-r) comprised Dr Marc Portus (human movement specialist), Javagal Srinath (ex-international player), Sir Oliver Popplewell (Chairman), Roshan Mahanama (current Emirates Elite Panel Referee), Dick French (ex-international umpire) © ICC

"We take the view that the laboratory test was carried out as fairly and properly as it should be."

The hearing began with an introduction from the Chairman of the BRG, Sir Oliver Popplewell before the group was asked to consider video evidence and the match officials' report from the Multan Test in which Mr Ahmed's action was reported.

Professor Bruce Elliott, who conducted the independent biomechanical assessment of Mr Ahmed's action, then presented the findings of his report and responded to questions from Mr Ahmed and the BRG.

Following this, the Pakistan Cricket Board produced its own evidence, including recent video footage of Mr Ahmed bowling at the PCB Academy and in a domestic cricket match.

The members of the BRG then met privately to consider the matter before delivering their unanimous decision.

The decision of the BRG is final and binding. Mr Ahmed becomes the first player to be banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months under the revised ICC bowling review regulations.

The amended regulations, introduced in March 2005, stipulate that a player who is found to have been bowling with an illegal action twice within two years will face an automatic 12 month suspension from international cricket.

The Chairman of the BRG, required to be a current ICC Code of Conduct Commissioner, was chosen by the Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, Sunil Gavaskar. The BRG Chairman, together with Mr Gavaskar, then selected the remaining members of the group.