“Why just target the off-spinners?”
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal is facing disciplinary action after slamming the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) attitude towards illegal bowling actions.
Ajmal was forced to re-model his bowling action after it was deemed illegal in September 2014. After he was cleared to bowl again in February, the 38-year-old was unable to have the same kind of impact and was dropped from the Pakistan team.
Ajmal also believes that the ICC have been targeting off-spinners and added that players from certain countries seem to be reported more often that those of other nations.
As a result of his outburst, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a show notice to the off-spinner.
“Why just target the off-spinners?”Ajmal asked in interviews with Zainab Abbas on Dunya News and with Geo Super. “Why not the left-arm spinners, legspinners or fast bowlers?
“I can tell you that I have been through this bowling assessment process so many times and have watched and studied this issue so closely that I can vouch that if tests were carried out, there would be many other bowlers whose bowling actions would exceed the 15 degrees extension limit.
“I don’t want to take names but there are still bowlers, including fast bowlers, who are violating the new rules but no one is looking at them.
“If they put Harbhajan Singh through a proper bowling assessment test now, I can safely tell you he will exceed the 15 degrees limit.”
Ajmal, who could face legal action for his scathing remarks about Singh, also questioned the timing of the reports and suggested that the ICC did it deliberately so that he and Mohammad Hafeez would miss the 2015 World Cup.
“Just before the World Cup they ruled me and Hafeez out,” he said. “I find it strange that Bilal Asif plays his first two ODIs and doesn’t take many wickets, so no one reports his action. As soon as he takes five wickets, his action is reported by the umpires. They find fault with just two deliveries. I find this a joke.”
However, an ICC spokesman dismissed Ajmal’s comments, and told ESPNcricinfo: “We have a robust and transparent process to test bowlers. It is consistent to all countries and all types of bowlers. Indeed, a fast bowler has been reported and players from various nations have been reported.
“We have five ICC accredited testing centres around the world in which members of ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists conduct tests using the ICC Standard Analysis Protocols. These protocols are the same for anyone who undergoes assessment of his bowling action. As a result, following assessments, some bowlers have been cleared to continue bowling; some have needed to re-model their actions.
“Furthermore, a player can within seven days after receiving the independent assessment report seek a review of any procedural aspect of his case, but no player has done so.”