Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was cleared on Saturday to resume international cricket after his bowling action was found to be legal during a retest at an ICC-accredited facility in Chennai, a development which may open up a chance for him to play in the upcoming World Cup.
The ICC confirmed in a release that following remedial work and retests, the bowling actions of Ajmal and Sohag Gazi of Bangladesh have been found to be legal, and the players can now resume bowling in international cricket.
“At the retests, it was revealed that the amount of elbow extensions in both the off-spinners’ bowling action for all their deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions,” the ICC said in the release.
“In advance of any retest, a player who has been banned from bowling in international cricket, is required to identify the various types of deliveries he wants assessed, with a view to bowling those types of deliveries in international cricket should they be tested as legal,” it said.
Ajmal had opted out of the Pakistan team for the World Cup because of suspect bowling action, but since he has been cleared it remains to be seen whether he can be included in the squad or not. A team can ask for a replacement for an injured player in the squad and an ICC Committee will take a call on that.
The ICC said that umpires were still at liberty to report Ajmal and Gazi in the future if they believe they are having suspect actions.
"To assist the umpires they have been provided with images and video footage of the two bowlers' significantly remodelled legal bowling actions," the ICC said.
Ajmal relieved
Cleared to resume international cricket after his bowling action was found to be illegal, Ajmal on Saturday expressed contentment and said he intended to play for another 3-4 years.
“I am really happy today that finally my action is clear and all the hard work has paid dividends. I have no intention to retire and I want to play for three to four years more for Pakistan,” Ajmal told reporters in Lahore.
Ajmal, 37, said he had set himself a target of returning in April-May when the national team tours Bangladesh.
“But if an emergency arises and I am required then I am ready to also go to the World Cup but my preference is to ready myself for a comeback against Bangladesh,” he said.
To a query, he said: “It is most disappointing I went through this crisis before the World Cup. I am just happy to be cleared.”
