Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has spoken of his frustration after being reported for throwing for the second time this year. Shoaib was cited by match officials at the Khaleej Times Trophy in Sharjah and now faces three months of remedial work with former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding. "I am mentally tough, but such reports do disappoint me," Shoaib said. "Had it been any other player he would have given up by now. I have the backing of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and hopefully I will overcome this problem."

Shaoib was originally reported for throwing in March during a tour of New Zealand. He subsequently underwent tests at the University of Western Australia which included his action being filmed in super slow motion from a number of angles. The university concluded that his action was legal and any perceived bending of his arm was due to "unique physical characteristics … he had hypermobility in both his shoulder and elbow joints". His comeback was dogged by injury problems and he quit Pakistan's tour of England after failing to shake off a pulled stomach muscle. But he returned to form in Shajah, taking nine wickets in the tournament. "I am at a loss to understand that why my action was reported after I was cleared by a medical report. Whenever I take wickets they question my action, I have started to feel that they are after my career." He will be reassured by the support of the PCB. "When Akhtar has been cleared by experts this new issue is baseless," General Tauqir Zia of the PCB told Pakistan's Dawn newspaper. "ICC must send the report of Australian experts to all its referees and umpires so that no one dares to call his action suspicious."

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