Pakistan dares ICC on Shoaib
Article: PAK Agha Akbar
Following are the excerpts from the Department of Human Movement and Exercise Sciences, University of Western Australia's report on Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action:
i) His action from visual inspection is the same as was analysed in Perth in 2001 for the PCB. ii) The abduction (or valgus posture) of the forearm at the elbow joint (outward orientation) and excessive extension (hypertension) at the elbow joint (backward bend beyond the arm being in a straight line) viewed during delivery are aspects of his action that can not be modified. This was discussed at length in the [earlier] report. iii) Viewing any three-dimensional action from a single video camera is a practice that should be avoided where possible, as it often leads to erroneous decisions being made based on perception rather than fact. The erroneous perception is due to the abnormal abduction and hyperextended elbow posture that occurs in Mr Ahktar's bowling action. Any constant three dimensional angle when viewed from different single video camera angles will appear to flex and extend as the upper arm rotates about the line from the elbow joint centre to the should joint centre. iv) Mr. Akhtar was born with an abnormal upper limb (bowling arm). This limb will always give the impression of an unorthodox position during delivery, because of his elbow's hyper-mobility, which can attain 18 degrees of hyper-extension and 22 degrees of abduction. These angles were measured using standard anthropometric techniques. The hyper-mobility in Mr Akhtar's joint was also reported by Mr Rhidian Thomasan, Orthopedic and Trauma Specialist in the United Kingdom. v) Any time that Mr Akhtar rotates his bowling arm at near maximum speed, his forearm hyper-mobility will allow the elbow joint be forced into hyperextension. Subsequently, his forearm will also not form a straight line with the upperarm, like most bowlers, because of the abduction and hyperextension of the forearm at the elbow. No amount of practice or technique training can modify these two anatomical characteristics. It is therefore clear that Mr Akhtar does not throw the ball, but bowls it with an arm that exhibits these two abnormal characteristics. We accept that umpires should at first be concerned about his action, however, after receiving the scientific data included in the report should be completely satisfied that he is not attempting to throw the ball. These data have been further supported by independent assessment from an English orthopedic surgeon. We therefore believe that Mr Akhtar should be permitted to bowl for Pakistan without further concern as to his action. |
Shoaib Akhtar Photo © CricInfo |
The argument for shunning Stage Two (the corrective measures) is that Shoaib action 'cannot be modified' due to excessive extension at at the forearm and the elbow joint.