The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to send suspended off-spinner Muhammad Hafeez to India undergo unofficial bowling test in a bid to rectify his illegal bowling action.
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Reports said Hafeez would undergo the test at an ICC-accredited laboratory in Chennai, India, before going to the world’s governing body for official testing. The PCB will contact International Cricket Council (ICC) if the test result would be positive. ICC banned Hafeez, 34, earlier this month after his action was found to be illegal.
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Ace Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has also been suspended by the ICC for his ‘illegal’ bowling action three months ago, but PCB has decided that only Hafeez will go to India. The 37-year-old Ajmal announced on Saturday that he will not feature in next year’s World Cup after he failed to completely correct his bowling action.
Ajmal’s bowling action was reported during the Galle Test in Sri Lanka in August. His action was found illegal on a bio-mechanic assessment a month later which led to his suspension. Under the ICC rules all bowlers are allowed to bend their elbow by 15 degrees beyond which the action is deemed illegal. The suspended bowlers need to remodel their action after which they undergo reassessment to get clearance.
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Ajmal did remedial work under former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who also advised him to take some more time. Ajmal’s absence will badly hamper Pakistan’s chances in the World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand in February-March next year. – Samaa
