How Jagmohan Dalmiya rescued Shoaib Akhtar's career in 2000-01?

Shoaib Akhtar, the former quick bowler from Pakistan ended as one of the best bowlers in the history of cricket. He is also reckoned as one of the fastest pacers of his time and his deliveries used to clock around 150 km/hr. However, there was a time when he was brought under the scanner for having an illegal bowling action. But, it was Jagmohan Dalmiya, who supported Rawalpindi Express on all fronts due to which he could manage to play for so long according to Lt General (retd) Tauqir Zia.

The 44-year-old former pacer was a menacing bowler, who dominated batsmen for more than a decade with his quick bowling. Overall in his illustrious career, Akhtar accounted for a total of 444 wickets across all the formats for Men in Green. But, his route to glory was not easy and once he was on the verge of getting banned from international cricket after his bowling arm came under scrutiny in 2000-01. However, it was the former ICC chairman, who rescued him from all the charges and claims.

Former PCB chairman reveals how Jagmohan Dalmiya helped Shoaib Akhtar

In a recent interview, former PCB chairman Lt General (retd) Tauqir Zia said that Jagmohan Dalmiya, who was the then President of ICC (1997-2000) supported Shoaib Akhtar on all fronts. He also added that the Indian administrator took a stand although other members were insisting that the action of former pacer was illegal.

“Jagmohan, who had been president of the ICC and was an influential voice, supported us a lot in the Shoaib Akhtar bowling action case. He took a stand for us despite the ICC members insisting that Akhtar’s bowling action was illegal,” Lt General (retd) Tauqir Zia, who headed the PCB from 1999 to 2003, told to GTV News Channel.

The former chief recited that Jagmohan Dalmiya’s stand played an important role that forced ICC to eventually allow Akhtar to play in international cricket. They also came to the conclusion that the pacer had a medical flaw since birth that gave him such type of bowling action.

“But due to the stance taken by Dalmiya and myself, the ICC eventually conceded that Akhtar had a medical flaw in his bowling arm since birth which gave him hyper elbow extension and he was allowed to play on.”