Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal to be reassessed in Chennai

Sport360 staff 17:57 13/01/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Mass appeal: Ajmal.

    Suspended Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal will have his bowling action reassessed in India this month as he tries to make a comeback to international cricket, an official said Tuesday.

     Misbah-ul Haq and Pakistan Cricket Board irked by leak of retirement news
    – Gayle slams selectors for dropping key players from West Indies World Cup squad

    The 37-year-old was ranked world number one in one-day internationals when his action was reported during the Galle Test in Sri Lanka in August last year. He was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) a month later after a bio-mechanical analysis.

    Ajmal last month withdrew from next month's World Cup after failing to completely alter his action, leaving Pakistan's bowling attack badly weakened.

    Mohammad Akram, head coach of the Pakistan Cricket Board's national academy, said Ajmal would travel to the Indian city of Chennai for a reassessment.

    "Ajmal will have his bowling action reassessed in Chennai on January 24 and he as well as we are confident that he will clear the test," Akram told AFP.

    Under ICC rules bowlers are allowed to bend their elbow by up to 15 degrees, beyond which the action is deemed illegal. Suspended bowlers must remodel their action and then undergo a reassessment to get clearance to play again.

    Ajmal, whose elbow flex reached 43 degrees, did remedial work under former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and had unofficial tests in England.

    Under ICC rules if a bowler fails a reassessment test he does not face any ban but will have to appear for another assessment, the time period for which will be determined by the ICC Bowling Review Group.

    If Ajmal passes the January 24 test he will be available for international cricket. However, he will be banned for 12 months should his action be reported again at international level within two years of the first report.

    Recommended