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Fresh storm over Akhtar's action

Pakistan cricket officials said today they had not received an official complaint about the bowling action of Shoaib Akhtar despite fresh media allegations over the paceman after the 3-0 series defeat by Australia.

Two Australian newspapers reported that video footage of Akhtar's bowling action would be sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in London for review.

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed said he had spoken to match referee John Reid after the third Test ended on Sunday in Perth and Reid had not mentioned Akhtar's action.

''He met with us for 20 minutes...He said goodbye to us and there was nothing,'' Saeed told reporters.

''If there is anything it must come through official channels and action must be taken accordingly. But it doesn't concern me at all.''

The reports in the Australian and the Daily Telegraph did not say who would send the video and an accompanying request for a review of Akhtar's action to the ICC. Neither paper gave direct quotes nor indicated where the reports had come from.

They suggested the video could be sent by Reid or one of the two umpires in the final Test. Briton Peter Willey and Australian Darrell Hair stood in the Perth Test, which Australia won by an innings and 20 runs.

Akhtar flatly rejected the new claims about his action.

''It's all crap,'' he told reporters.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said it was not involved.

"There is nothing we can say,'' said ACB public affairs manager Brendan McClements.

''We don't have a role to play in this situation.''

Pakistan fly out of Australia on Wednesday after a disappointing series and will return in January for a triangular limited-overs series which also involves India.

Saeed said Akhtar would return for the series unless the ICC notified the Pakistani team management of any concerns it had over his action.

''There has to be a decision on this before we start thinking of bringing or not bringing anyone for the one-dayers,'' he said.

''Only if it goes to the ICC would we not bring him, otherwise why should we not bring him back?'' Saeed said.

Concern centres over whether Akhtar straightens his bent arm at the point of delivery in contravention of cricket rules. The ICC could instruct him to remodel his delivery.

Last month a state umpiring chief questioned the legality of Akhtar's action before the first Test in Brisbane.

Western Australian umpiring chief Rick Evans sent a 20-minute video tape of Akhtar bowling in a one-day tour match to the ACB for review.

ACB chief executive Malcolm Speed told Saeed that Evans had acted by himself and that the matter would not be taken further.

Saeed said the latest controversy was a sad way to end what had been a disappointing tour.

''It's sad. I wish these things wouldn't happen,'' Saaed said. ''It seems when you enter Australia you have controversy and when you leave Australia you have controversy.

''Shoaib is still very exciting, I wish cricket could have more Shoaibs around the world,'' Saeed said.

UNI