ACB chief tries to divert issue

Karachi, Nov 4: The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) has diplomatically tried to shift the attention of the game's experts from Shoaib Akhtar's allegedly chucking row to Pakistan cricket affairs.

In a press release issued on Thursday, ACB chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "There are few more serious allegations in cricket than accusing a bowler of throwing."

Speed has not clarified what he meant by `few more serious allegations' but it is anybody's guess what he is referring to.

Cricket is presently plagued by bribery controversies with the latest being offers made to New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and former England bowler Chris Lewis two months ago.

Besides, Australian players Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh, five years ago, had accused the then Pakistan captain Salim Malik of offering them bribe. Although Malik was absolved off all allegations, he is again one of the players at whom fingers have been pointed out following the submission of the judicial commission report which has not been made public yet.

Interestingly, Waugh and Warne were penalized by the ACB in December 1994 for passing on information to a bookmaker during their tour of Sri Lanka in 1994.

"Given the seriousness of such allegations, the ACB and the ICC have clear and rigorous process to deal with them," Speed commented on the unsaid allegations.

He added: "These have built in safeguards to ensure that the matter is dealt with effectively and, most importantly, with absolute fairness to all parties concerned.

"These systems are the cornerstone on which a proper investigation of such matter can take place and are strongly supported by the ACB."

Speed, in the press release, regarding the Shoaib Akhtar episode, has said the only the umpires involved in the game in question had the authority to raise any concerns. Umpires Ross Emerson and Terry Prue were not officiating the Oct 27 match whose footage were sent to the ACB.

"In light of these facts, the ACB saw no reason to question the umpires' decision or to refer the tape to the ICC for action.

"Ultimately, any action concerning a player of a foreign team is a matter for the umpires, team's board and the ICC.

"As a matter of course, we will advise the ICC that a tape as been received by us but that it does not fall clearly within their jurisdiction.

"Apart from this, there is no compelling reason to take any action," Speed stated.

However, Speed has said that the ICC process will apply on Shoaib Akhtar, who has played 10 Tests and 26 one-day internationals without ever being called for throwing, when the Test series starts from Friday.

"The ICC Process will apply in the Test and one-day series. Shoaib Akhtar will take the field in the first Test with an Australian umpire, an international umpires and ICC referee all empowered to raise any concerns."

The press release quoted Rick Evans, Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) Director of Umpires, as saying that he had provided the 20-minute video footage of Shoaib Akhtar at his instigation and without any complain from either of the two Western Australian umpires (Emerson and Prue).

"The videotape was produced so that the ACB would be able to address a concern that may arise in the future," Evans was quoted as saying