The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Akhtar can be reported again: Gavaskar

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Wednesday, Feb 08, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

Akhtar can be reported again: Gavaskar

NEW DELHI: Asserting that no player is cleared for life, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who heads the ICC Technical Committee, has warned that Shoaib Akhtar may again be summoned again for his suspect bowling action.

Gavaskar's remarks have come close on the heels of Team India coach Greg Chappell's comments on the Pakistani paceman's action, which was described by the Australian as "something seriously different".

"Shoaib Akhtar could be called up again for his action," Gavaskar told ESPN.

Referring to Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Akhtar, Gavaskar made it clear that no bowler was "cleared forever... every ball he bowls can be scrutinised and he can be summoned".

"The umpire can call the bowler if he feels that his action is not right. Unfortunately, because sometimes there is an optical illusion, lot of umpires prefer to report to the third umpire and match referee. Therefore the bowler can come under the ICC scanner," he said.

Gavaskar also rubbished suggestions coming from some quarters that Sachin Tendulkar should concentrate only on one-dayers, in order to save his talents for the 2007 World Cup.

"Sachin should play in both one-dayers as well as Test cricket because he still has got everything in him. In fact, I think, if he wants to prolong his Test career, maybe, he should be choosy about the one-day matches he plays," he added. — UNI

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