The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked match referee Ranjan Madugalle to look into alleged comments made by India coach Greg Chappell that stated he was concerned with paceman Shoaib Akhtai s bowling action.

"We have written to the match referee asking him to find out if Chappell has made the comments attributed to him," PCB director Abbas Zaidi told Reuters on Wednesday.

"We are taking this issue very’ seriously.'

Earlier, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan confirmed the board was seeking clarification

regarding Chappell's views on the matter.

"We have seen these reports and we are trying to find out whether he has said these things," Shaharyar said.

"If he has implied anything about Shoalb's action it is a violation of the ICC (International Cricket Council) code of conduct."

A former Australian captain, Chappell was reported by an Indian television channel as saying that there was "something seriously different" about Shoaib's action.

The comments came after Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble were both hit on thehelmet by risingShoaib deliveries in the third and final Test between the sides taking place in Karachi this week.

Ilie Times Now channel claimed

Chappell had told them he had seen a lot of people hit by Shoaib and that India could do without their players beinghit like that.

"Even if something has been implied in any statement we will pursue it with the match referee," Shaharyar said.

"In 2004, our chief selector Wasim Bari made some comments about the umpires officiating in a international game involving Pakistan and he was reprimanded by the ICC for violation of code of conduct which applies to all players, team and board officials."

The 30-year-okl Shoaib has been reported three times for a suspect bowling action but was cleared to play first class cricket in 2001, after which he has not been reported again.

• "Even if there is a problem with । his action, there is a procedure i outlined by the ICC and team | officials can’t imply anything.” i Shaharyaradded.

j PIT adds, the Indian team man-i agernent on 'Tuesday denied media reports that they had complained to rhe match referee regarding the

i bowling action of Akhtar.

Reacting to reports that India had lodged a formal complain! ' against Shoalb after the second Test in Faisalabad, Indian team's media manager GS Walia said. ’We I have not lodged any complaint • against any bowler."

Walia was approached for com-I menus after the third day s play of | the Karachi third Test when the | news starred doing the rounds.

Akhtar, on his part, threatened ro rake legal action against those who claimed that he was chucking.

T don’t know why people are saying this. I have been cleared by the International Cricket Council

1 three times. I will rake them to court as it’s a violation of my human rights," he told a IV channel.

"People in India and Pakistan 1 should realise the consequences of I saying such things? he said.