“We didn’t want to take a risk with Ajmal’s career because latest reports suggested his elbow extension was still not within the 15 degrees allowed by the ICC”
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Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has withdrawn from the country’s World Cup squad after admitting that he needs more time to rectify his bowling action.
Ajmal, who was banned from bowling in September, recently had his remodeled bowling action tested in Chennai, but he was still found to be flexing his elbow over the 15-degree limit.
“Ajmal withdrew himself,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan was quoted as saying by Reuters. “We didn’t want to take a risk with Ajmal’s career because latest reports suggested his elbow extension was still not within the 15 degrees allowed by the ICC despite all the remedial work on his action.
“We were aware that if he took the official ICC test in a bid to make the World Cup squad and failed it he could be suspended from playing for one to two years and that would mean the end of his career.”
Ajmal will continue working with former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq in Lahore, while all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, who was banned from bowling earlier this month, will have his action unofficially tested in Chennai later this week.
“The PCB committee discussed the future course of action to be adopted with regard to Ajmal and Hafeez and agreed that in the case of Ajmal, further remedial work should continue in collaboration with Saqlain and a bio-mechanist in Lahore,” the PCB said via a press release. “The group was informed that significant progress had been made by Ajmal who is now working on completing his mileage with the remodelled action which shall soon be accomplished.
“It was noted that Saqlain and Mushtaq Ahmed (Pakistan spin bowling coach) have both worked with Hafeez and his action should now be unofficially tested in Chennai next week.”