PCB to send Hafeez, Ajmal to Brisbane for official testing

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to send suspended off-spinners Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal to Brisbane for the official tests of ICC before the start of the World Cup.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said on Sunday that while Ajmal would go for the tests in a few weeks as he was not in the World Cup final squad, Hafeez would take the test by the end of the month.

“Hafeez will take the tests end January so that the results are known before the start of the World Cup. He has already taken an informal test in Chennai and the results were very encouraging and he himself is very confident now he can clear the ICC test and be able to bowl in the World Cup,” Khan said.

Hafeez has been picked in Pakistan’s World Cup squad as a batsman but the PCB chief said the team management was keen he also bowls in the tournament.

Hafeez, 34, has been a vital cog in the Pakistan attack, having taken 122 wickets in 153 ODI besides accumulating 4456 runs.

He was suspended from bowling in international cricket in November after he was reported by match officials after the third Test against New Zealand in Sharjah.

The experienced allrounder’s bowling action was earlier also reported in the Champions League in india in September.

“Hafeez himself is very confident after the informal test as he said he just needed to do some minor tweeks to his action to clear the ICC test which limits a bowler to 15 degrees to straighten his arm,” Khan added.

He said the PCB had also sent in official request to the ICC to appoint an observer to oversee his official bowling test in Brisbane.

“Since Saeed is not in the World Cup we are in no hurry to send him for test our priority is Hafeez. But Saeed as informed us he is ready to take the ICC test anytime as he believes he has worked enough on his modified bowling action to clear the ICC requirements,” Khan added.

He said Ajmal could also be sent for the test just before the World Cup as he would be required by the national team that has important series against Sri Lanka, England and india in 2015.

“Certainly we don’t consider Saeed’s career as over and we are supporting him to make a comeback after the World Cup,” he stated.

Ajmal was suspended from bowling in September by the ICC after failing the official test in Brisbane.

PTI