The controversy about Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action has finally been put to rest after Team India coach Greg Chappell denied raising any questions on its legality following which the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to give up on the matter.
Quoting a senior PCB official, The News reported that the issue was settled when Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee for the Test series, spoke to Chappell about his comments on Akhtar's action being ''seriously different''.
Chappell denied making the reported statement and said his remarks had been taken out of context.
''He said he had raised no aspersion over Shoaib's action,'' the daily quoted the official as saying.
''Madugalle then wrote out a report to International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed outlining the whole episode and what Chappell had said and his own observations. Speed then sent us a letter making everything clear and advising the matter should be closed.''After getting Speed's letter and certain assurances we decided not to pursue the issue anymore,'' the official stated.
''The fact of the matter is we took up this issue very seriously because we are clear in our mind that there is nothing wrong with his action. But after getting the ICC letter and the matter being settled we let it rest,'' he added.
Shoaib is currently recuperating from an ankle injury and will remain out of action for the next six weeks.
