Shoaib’s action under scrutiny

Karachi: Pakistan’s experienced all-rounder and former captain, Shoaib Malik has come under scrutiny for his bowling action in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first class tournament. Although still to be officially reported to the Pakistan Cricket Board by the match officials, a well informed source said that Malik’s bowling action had been viewed after the match on video by the match officials.

“They have doubts over the legality of some of the deliveries sent down by Malik on the first day of the four-day game for ZTBL against Karachi Dolphins at the national stadium on Friday,” the source said.Malik, out of favour with the selectors for now, has bagged plenty of wickets since the start of the first class season for the ZTBL team he is captaining in the event.

On Friday also he picked up five wickets in the Karachi innings but some of his deliveries came under scrutiny of the umpires and match referee.

“The umpires and match referee have viewed his bowling later on the clips captured by the video analyst,” the source said.Malik, 32, last played for Pakistan in the World T20 Cup in Bangladesh this year but his last Test appearance was in August, 2010 and his last ODI appearance in the Champions Trophy last year in England.

The former captain has been in terrific form with bat and ball in recent months not only in the foreign T20 leagues but also after he joined ZTBL from PIA.

The PCB has issued strict instructions to the umpires and match referees deputed in the domestic season to keep a close watch on the bowlers with suspect bowling actions.

Malik, who was reported for his action at the international level in the past, had been giving a lot of stress on his bowling in recent matches.

Pakistan’s other off-spinning allrounder, Muhammad Hafeez, presently playing in the first Test against Australia in Dubai, has already been reported for his action in the Champions League in India last month.