Coming down hard on Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal, the International Cricket Council (ICC) today in a statement informed that the right-arm off-spinner is suspended from international cricket because of an illegal bowling action.
Ajmal, who is Pakistan’s mainstay in the bowling department, will take no part in the forthcoming series against Australia. Pakistan are slated to play one T20, three one-dayers and two Tests against the Kangaroos in UAE.
The 36-year-old spinner from Faisalabad was reported for a suspect action in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium. He underwent a bowling assessment test in Brisbane’s National Cricket Centre, where his action was found illegal.
Ajmal, however, can appeal to reassess his action after doing a remedial work on his bowling, as currently all his deliveries exceeds 15 degree limit allowed by the ICC.
“The International Cricket Council today confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal to be illegal and, as such, the player has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect,” the ICC statement reads.
“The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations,” it added.
This is the second time Ajmal’s action has come under scrutiny, as in 2009 as well he was reported but came out clean, following a test at the University of Western Australia, Perth. Ajmal has taken 178 wickets in 35 Tests, 183 wickets in 111 ODIs and 85 wickets in 63 T20 internationals.
