DUBAI – The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday declared the bowling action of Pakistan’s spin wizard Saeed Ajmal as ‘legal’, according to a tweet issued by cricket’s governing body.
Bowling actions of Saeed Ajmal and Sohag Gazi found to be legal. http://t.co/B4X9mQ4uKS
— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) February 7, 2015
“At the retests, it was revealed that the amount of elbow extensions in both the off-spinners’ bowling actions for all their deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance,” the ICC said in a statement.
“The umpires are still at liberty to report Saeed Ajmal and Sohag Gazi in the future if they believe they are displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal actions from the retests.”
According to Pakistan Cricket Board’s senior media manager, Raza Kitchlew, Ajmal’s inclusion in Pakistan’s World Cup squad was unlikely but they would wait on the ICC Technical Committee’s word on the matter.
“The 15-man squad is already complete and even in the case of an injury, the ICC’s Technical Committee would have to approve of any change. The Pakistan selection committee, then, would obviously use its discretion. But that aside, I think we must all be glad that Ajmal is now cleared to play international cricket again,” Kitchlew told Dawn.com
Saeed Ajmal was suspended from bowling after the ICC had declared his action as illegal in September 2014. He was initially reported for a suspect action during a Test match against Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi was banned over an illegal bowling action in Oct 2014 after he was reported in a match against the West Indies in August 2014.
Ajmal, who had undergone biomachanic tests in Chennai on Jan 24, is now clear to play international cricket but his inclusion in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming World Cup remains unlikely.
Under the ICC rules all teams can replace a player before the Feb 7 deadline, a week before the World Cup starts.
Pakistan will play its first match against title-holders India in Adelaide on February 15.
