Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal suspended for illegal action

Islamabaad, The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal on Tuesday from bowling in international matches after his bowling action was found to be illegal.

The ICC said analysis of the bend and straightening of Ajmal’s bowling arm revealed “all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations.”

The action was analyzed by an ICC-accredited team of Human Movement Specialists using the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on August 25.

Ajmal’s suspension is a big blow to Pakistan’s plans for next year’s World Cup as the 36-year-old has taken 183 wickets in 111 ODIs and 178 wickets in 35 tests.

Ajmal was reported after the first test against Sri Lanka last month. He played in the second test but missed the first two ODIs to carry out the tests in Australia.

According to ICC regulations, the suspended bowler can continue to play in domestic cricket under the supervision and consent of the home board and can apply for a re-assessment any time after he modifies his bowling action. It was not for the first time that Ajmal had been reported in international matches. He was previously reported in 2009 during a one-day series against Australia in Dubai but cleared all the tests.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said Ajmal’s suspension was a major setback for Pakistan. “The sad part is that we haven’t tried any other specialist off—spinner in international matches and now our World Cup plans are severely dented,” Latif said.

Pakistan to appeal suspension
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it will appeal against the suspension of offspinner Saeed Ajmal.

“We have decided to appeal within 14 days, and want the ICC to reconsider his ban,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said on Tuesday, within hours of the ICC suspending Ajmal.

“If our appeal is not successful then he will be banned for one year, but I do hope Ajmal will remodel his action within one year and plays again.”

Khan said there were at least 35 bowlers — mostly offspinners — in Pakistan’s domestic cricket whose bowling actions are suspected.

“We have decided to make a committee… of all these suspect bowlers so that this problem is sorted out once and for all.”