Cricket's ruling body is to investigate complaints questioning the bowling action of the world's fastest bowler, Shoaib Akhtar.

The International Cricket Council has told the Pakistan Cricket Board it has referred Akhtar's case to a nine-man advisory panel.

The panel will meet on December 30 to decide whether Akhtar's delivers his fast ball illegally.

It has sent a 20-minute video and letter to the PCB explaining its decision to investigate Akhtar.

PCB secretary Shafqat Rana said the fast bowler will not be withdrawn from Pakistan's 14 man squad for the tri-nations 50-overs tournament in Australia, and the ICC had not ordered them to do so.

"We received a video and a letter from Clive Hitchcock (ICC manager of cricket operations) on Tuesday afternoon," Rana said from Lahore.

Shoaib's action was questioned by match referee John Reid during the Test series against Australia.

Fast ball scrutiny

According to the news agency Reuters, which says it has a copy of Hitchcock's letter to the PCB, Reid's report on Akhtar is supported by controversial umpire Darrell Hair and Peter Willey who were the officials in the Perth test which Pakistan lost by an innings and consequently the series 3-0.

"The report by the match referee has made it clear that not every delivery is affected, but all three officials were concerned about the straightening of Akhtar's arm immediately before a bouncer or an express fast delivery," Hitchcock said in the letter.

Rana disagrees with Reid's observation.

"A panel of Test stalwarts watched the video and everyone was convinced that Shoaib Akhtar has a text book bowling action," he said.

Rana said the panel comprised former captains Javed Miandad and Ramiz Raja and team manager Intikhab Alam.

Akhtar, whose fastest delivery clocks around 95 mph, also watched the footage