The Banning Of Shabbir Ahmed

The Pakistan bowler, Shabbir Ahmed, who has played in 10 test matches and has taken 51 wickets at 23 a piece, has been banned for 12 months by the ICC who have ruled that the straightening of his arm in delivery exceeds the 15 degree limit. He is the first bowler to be banned under these rules, which need to be amended if they are to be effective.

The old regulations placed the onus on the umpires to call a bowler for throwing on the field of play. However, this led to controversy in January 1999 when Ross Emersen incorrectly called Muralitharan in a One Day Match against England at Adelaide. In an attempt to diffuse this contentious matter the ICC ruled that umpires can refer a bowler for further analysis. Unfortunately this means that any ruling will be retrospective, which is unsatisfactory for both the bowler and the batting side.

Under the new regulations a bowler's career can be ended after the match has been completed, without a warning that he was transgressing during the game. It is equally unfair for the batting team, who can be bowled out by illegal deliveries, with the umpires impotently looking on but taking no action.

Obviously it is impossible for an umpire on the field of play to determine whether a bowler's action is within the 15 degree limit, but today's technology is able to determine almost instantly whether the rule is being transgressed. If possible the third umpire should call any unfair deliveries. Alternatively, bowlers should receive warnings during the match, similar to those received for running on the wicket. Further transgressions should lead to suspension during the match and a longer ban if necessary.

To wait until after the match before taking action is cowardly and serves the interests of no-one.