Pakistan’s batting all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been cleared to resume bowling in international cricket after his action was found to be legal following remedial work and reassessment.
The off-spinner was banned from bowling for 12 months in July 2015 after being reported during a Test win over Sri Lanka in Galle the previous month, the second time in a two-year period his action had been deemed to be illegal.
While he was eligible to be retested during the England tour over the summer, a knee injury meant it was only earlier this month that the 36-year-old underwent a reassessment of his action in Brisbane.
It was revealed there that the amount of elbow extension for his deliveries was within the 15-degree limit permitted by International Cricket Council regulations.
The governing body added in a statement: “The umpires are still at liberty to report Hafeez if they believe he is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action from the reassessment. To assist the umpires, they will be provided with images and video footage of the bowler’s remodelled legal bowling action.
“If he is reported again, he will be required to undertake further analysis of his bowling action at an ICC accredited testing centre.”
Hafeez’s batting has not been enough to keep him in the Test line-up as he was dropped for the final match against England following poor form, while he was left out of the touring squad to face New Zealand.
While they lost both Tests to the Black Caps, Pakistan’s selection panel opted for an unchanged squad for the forthcoming tour of Australia, leaving Hafeez, a top order batsman who can tie up an end when bowling, out in the cold.
