PCB sure of successful appeal

Pakistan are confident they can get paceman Shabbir Ahmed's one-year suspension overturned after filing an appeal with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"The appeal has been filed behalf of Shabbir," the Pakistan Cricket Board's director of operations, Saleem Altaf told Reuters on Saturday.

"The ICC will now inform us about the date for hearing his appeal and I will be accompanying (Shabbir) as a representative of the board as per rules allowed by the ICC," Altaf said.

The Pakistani paceman became the first bowler to be banned for one year because of an illegal bowling action after he was reported twice in the last seven months by ICC match officials.

Shabbir was suspended on Monday after an independent assessment of his action carried out by the University of Western Australia confirmed he had an illegal action.

Altaf said Shabbir, who has taken 51 wickets in 10 Tests and 33 in 32 one-dayers, stood no chance of being available for next month's home series against India.

"We feel we have a strong case to appeal the ban but even if the ICC upholds our appeal I think Shabbir will still have to undergo a rehabilitation process," he said.

He said the PCB had sought the help of Australian fast bowling coach Daryl Foster in pleading Shabbir's case. Foster had made the point that the bowler was only violating the ICC tolerance level of 15 degrees allowed to bowlers to extend their elbow on a few deliveries.

Altaf said even if the appeal was not successful the board would continue to support Shabbir, who has considered quitting the game, and try to rehabilitate his career.