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ICC bans Shoaib Akhtar

The International Cricket Council has banned Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar from international cricket because of his illegal bowling action, a Pakistani board official announced today.

A nine-member ICC committee yesterday made the decision after an hour-long tele-conference.

According to agency reports, the ICC told the Pakistan Cricket Board to work on the bowler's action after which his case could be reconsidered in a month.

The decision rules Akhtar out of the triangular one-day series involving Pakistan, Australia and India, starting in Australia on January 9

"We have been informed by the ICC about this unfortunate decision. We have been asked to work on Shoaib's action,'' Pakistan Cricket Board secretary Shafqat Rana said.

"We have not been given any time frame,'' Rana said adding he hoped the "Rawalpindi Express'' would be available for the Pakistan side to play Sri Lanka in February.

The decision was also communicated to the Pakistan team manager, Brigadier Mohammad Nasir, in Perth just hours after the Pakistan side returned to Australia where it lost the Test series 3-0 last month.

Official concerns about the legality of the action of the man rated the fastest bowler in the world were initially raised in the third Test between Australia and Pakistan in Perth by match referee John Reid, who contacted the ICC.