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Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar hopes to overcome bowling action controversy

ISLAMABAD, Friday (AFP) - Pakistan's express pace demon Shoaib Akhtar Thursday pledged to overcome fresh suspicions over his bowling action and said he has the support of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and his team-mates.

"I am convinced that I am cleared by experts who said that my bowling arm problem is a genuine problem and the PCB has sent the report to the International Cricket Council (ICC)," Akhtar told AFP.

The ICC Wednesday confirmed that umpires had reported Akhtar's action as "suspect" following the Champions Trophy tournament in Sharjah which Pakistan won last week.

"I am at a loss to understand that why my action is reported time and again -- this is the second time this year and it puts enormous pressure on me," Akhtar said.

"I am convinced that the PCB chairman (Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia) will fight my case and I will play freely.

"Whenever I take wickets they question my action. I have started to feel that they are after my career. I have lost a lot of time through injury which I desperately want to make up," he said.

Akhtar, regarded as the fastest bowler in the world alongside Brett Lee of Australia, hit the limelight in the 1999 World Cup held in England.

His action was first reported in Australia in 1999 but Akhtar was cleared in March 2000 through a special ICC ruling. New Zealand's umpires reported his action again in March 2001.

But a high-tech study at the Western Australian University cleared him in April this year, concluding that his bowling arm was naturally kinked at birth but it did not fully straighten during delivery.

"We will approach the ICC to have a closer look at the medical report given by the Australian experts," the PCB said in a press release.

 

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