Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been cleared to play one-day games but must wait another week to learn if his Test ban is to be lifted.

In the meantime cricket's ruling body has removed the power of its advisory panel to suspend players with "suspect" bowling action from taking part in international cricket.

The International Cricket Council took the action in the wake of the controversial Test ban of Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

The ICC met on Thursday to consider Pakistan's appeal against the sanction.

The council agreed to defer a final decision but have cleared Akhtar to play in the forthcoming one-day series against Sri Lanka which starts on February 13.

A decision on whether Akhtar has managed to rectify his questionable fastball action will be taken before the first Test on February 26.

ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya said the decision to suspend the power to ban a player was taken in view of "wide-ranging legal ramifications that need to be considered".

Dalmiya said the Pakistan board had already reported considerable progress in removing the kinks in Akhtar's action.

Remedial measures

"The Pakistan Cricket Board will report to the panel about the remedial measures on the bowler's action.

"The panel will then consider the report and, if necessary, fresh video tapes before deciding on any further course of action."

The ICC chief explained that the advisory panel's power to ban a player has been revoked "until such time as there has been a full review by ICC of that power and related procedures".

He said no time-frame had been set by the executive board for the review.