Another Pakistani bowler (Hafeez) reported for suspect action

[Ernest]

Yes again another bowler has been reported for a suspect bowling action, this time it was Mohammad Hafeez .

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...an/4187499.stm for details.

I wonder if all this action reporting has gone to far, from Murali to Harmison to Flintoff and now the unfortunate spinner Hafeez, and many more, is this one step to far?.

Biomechanist seem to be doing ok out of these reports, load of nonsence to me, what does anyone else think.

[Zainub]

This reporting, one feels, will put the new regulations, and the ICC's findings (that only bending of beyond 15 degrees can be seen by the naked eye) to test. It has to be said though, that Hafeez has not changed his action since the last time he played (not that I can see any change my self anyway) and he was, it must be noted, not reported back then, nor where any concerns of any sort risen by anyone.

For Pakistan's sake I hope everything ends up being alright.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

It has to be said though, that Hafeez has not changed his action since the last time he played.
For Pakistan's sake I hope everything ends up being alright.

Yes Zainub,
This is what bothers me, if he has not changed his action since the last time he played, what could be wrong all of a sudden.
I am with you, I hope this matter ends up ok.

[Shaka]

I have already commented on this point in the match thread but I'll sum up my thoughts here. With some Pakistani bowlers like the U-19 WWC winning star, Tariq Mehmood, his action was clearly suspect, his doosra was a copy of Murali's action. That there were eyebrows raised there was no surprise. But with both Shoaib Malik and now Mohammed Hafeez, I have watched them bowl for so long and never spotted this 'throw' or any hint of one. And it seems strange to me that no one has ever picked it up on tv in the commentary box.

So it seems to me that whatever these umpires are seeing is barely perceptible, and this is just more fuss over nothing IMO. Both of these guys will be cleared sooner rather than later and for me the expected rule changes wrt what is seen as an illegal action can't come soon enough. We have already have had a potentially exciting series undermined by Shoaib's loss as a bowler and now his replacement comes under a cloud for something that is completely un-noticeable to the layman's eye. Tiresome to say the least, and it isn't great for the game.

[Shaka]

Just read this somewhere else regarding Harbajhan Singh's bowling action being reported. I see Chris Broad was involved in this one as well:

Meanwhile, Dubai-based 'Gulf News' quoted Harbhajan Singh as saying he was surprised as to how Match Referee Chris Broad, who reported him to the ICC, was sure he bent his arm more than 15 degrees.

"First tell me how Match Referee Chris Broad was so sure that I was violating the 15-degree barrier? Can it be measured by the naked eye," Harbhajan said.

"I did meet him (Broad). And he repeatedly said one thing: 'I think ... I think.' So I asked him, "why do you keep saying that you think?

"If you are sure that I am violating the rule then say it. Otherwise don't make any comments."

[Zainub]

And Chris Board, please remind me, is from which honorable country?

[Shaka]

He's the former English opener. Left-hander who built up a business importing furniture from Pakistan during one of his tours there.

[Zainub]

I see.......

[Maranello]

Chris Broad himself behaved abominably during England's tour to Pakistan (I think it was 1987), showing dissent at umpire's decisions and generally acting in a manner quite unbefitting a cricketer. In fact, if his actions had been done in the current era of Codes of Conduct, fines and suspensions, they would have merited a strong rebuke from the match referees, and possible suspensions from the ICC. As it is, in the 1980s he received a pat on the back from the "enlightened souls" at that sorry excuse of a body, the TCCB, as well as a "hardship bonus", presumably for the hardship of visiting the godforsaken place that the TCCB thought Pakistan to be.

That someone of such ill repute is a match referee, and that too in matches involving Pakistan and India, is a sad reflection on current cricket politics.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

This reporting, one feels, will put the new regulations to test.

Again I have to ask it: are these new regulations now adopted, or are they still proposals?