First of all I want to congratulate Pakistan on a wonderful Test series victory over a strong England team. The players were united, full of spirit and were clearly fighting for one another, which hasn’t always been the case in our cricket.

But in this column I want to focus on one of the more negative aspects to come out of the series, which was the reporting of Shabbir Ahmed and Shoaib Malik for having suspect actions during the first Test.

Rather than dwell on their shortcomings, I feel that as both have previously been cleared by the International Cricket Council, it is unfortunate this should arise again. It seems the ICC doesn’t know the best way to handle suspect bowling actions.

However, it is not all the ICC’s fault as much of what we see in first-class cricket should not have been allowed to pass through the system domestically in the first place.

For the last couple of years I have been managing the Pakistan Customs team in domestic cricket. To my horror a fair few of the young fast bowlers’ actions throughout the country looked suspect when they were trying to bowl bouncers. And even more - about 75 per cent - of the off-spinners definitely chuck when they bowl their doosra.

I brought this worrying matter to the attention of General Tauqir Zia when he was chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and warned him that if we didn’t do anything about this, we will soon become the ‘Nation of Chuckers’. But I am sorry to say, nobody paid any attention. 

I’m sure Murali and Harbhajan will merrily bowl the doosra in the current Test series in India, at least until it is called into question once more, which it undoubtedly will be at some point again.

Ever since this new delivery was introduced, many an off-spinner’s action looked suspect. Saqlain Mushtaq was the first one who bowled it and had great success with it, picking up so many wickets in county cricket for Surrey with that ball. Saqy was a great bowler but he still chucked that delivery. 

Then Murali and Harbhajan started bowling it. Since these three off-spinners bowled it, it has been shown on the TV all over and the youngsters watching were sure to copy their idols. This resulted in most of the off-spinners who copy them, looking as if they are chucking.

It is the way the delivery is being bowled that is in question. I wonder whether this ball can be bowled to the laws of cricket? A bowler at the time of delivery has to withdraw his left shoulder to extreme left and then bring his bowling arm through (right shoulder) almost parallel to his left, so now he is almost chest on in his delivery stride before he releases the ball, while turning his wrist almost 60 degrees before letting the ball go.

In conclusion, it is the delivery that is suspect rather than any bowler. For this reason I implore the ICC to ban this controversial delivery. As for the other suspect actions, it is an indictment on the ICC when the same bowler is constantly cleared and reported again. I understand it is a difficult issue but they need to think again on how to deal with suspect actions as they clearly still don’t have the answers.       

Bigstarcricket columnist Mushtaq Mohammed is a former Pakistan captain and coach who played 57 Tests and was once the youngest Test cricketer and Test centurion. He also coached his country to the World Cup final in 1999.