In an interview with AFP, the former pace great said key all rounder Mohammed Hafeez's confidence was left shattered after he was reported for a suspect action in an Indian domestic tournament, a fresh blow to Pakistan following the loss of Saeed Ajmal to a chucking ban.
Ajmal, the world's leading one-day bowler, faces a race against time to complete remedial work by the World Cup, to be held from February to March in Australia and New Zealand.
He was suspended earlier this month after he was found to straighten his elbow up to 43 degrees -- well beyond the 15 degree limit prescribed under the rules, the point where a kink becomes noticeable to the naked eye.
Since then, Hafeez and Sunil Narine have been among four players reported during an Indian tournament.
Though the action has no direct bearing on international cricket, Waqar said the bowlers would now be under intense scrutiny.
"Is this the right time to enforce the protocols and the technology?" he said.
"I am asking this because every team plans ahead of the World Cup, and the suspensions will badly hit the teams whose bowlers got suspended or questioned.
"I mean the protocols and the technology should have been enforced after the World Cup," he added.
Ajmal's suspension came as part of a wider drive by the International Cricket Council against bowlers with suspect actions, with Sri Lanka's Sachitra Senanayake and Kane Williamson being suspended in July this year.
Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi and Al-Amin Hossain along with Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya were all reported after Ajmal.
The bans have thrown a spotlight on the controversial "doosra" delivery, which turns in the opposite direction to orthodox offspin but is delivered using the same wrist action.
Waqar suggested that the delivery could not be bowled legally and the ICC should amend their laws to accommodate it.
"When a bowler bowls a doosra, his elbow must bend beyond limits, that's natural and I think a solution must be found."
Waqar added that Hafeez, who is a major part of Pakistan's limited overs teams, had been left scarred by the experience of being reported.
"I know they have reported him under a process but that is confidence-shattering for one of our key bowlers."
The Pakistan Cricket Board is facing something of a chucking crisis at home, suspending 16 bowlers last week after 30 were reported for suspect actions.
COMMENTS (6)
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My dear friends its not about big 3 and etc etc.. Its about playing cricket.. and if u know earlier shoaib akhtar was also reported for chucking.. and he was also caught after many years of his career. I aggree the bowling rules for spinner and fast bowlers should be changed.. But 15 and 43 ders a vast difference.. if ajmals bend was in 20's den also it would have been thought its ok sort off.. but 43.. den wats the use of other bowlers following the rules and change their actions. And usually spin bowlers play with full sleeves so that the bend of the arm cannot be caught. So think logically and dnt talk for players u support..
@Karthik: The point is these bowlers have been playing for years with same action. Up till now it was legal. Some of them were already cleared by ICC. These players were not intentionally chucking, they were simply not aware of the extent of bend and same goes for their respective boards. But suddenly ICC started crackdown right before world cup depriving some countries of their most valuable players. Now these countries don't have time to find quality replacements. ICC waited years to implement this crackdown, it would have been better had they waited for several more months.
@Karthik: How many spinners from the big 3 have been reported? 0 How many from outside the big 3? 10. This will pretty much answer all the questions you have.
The ICC is showing its double standards. The PCB should stage its strong protest over it, other wise the condition will be sever in future.
I don
t really understand the logic in Waqars point. If the action is illegal, those bowlers should be banned no matter when it is. What if the ICC delayed this & Ajmal picks up a match changing 6-7 wickets with his 43 degree bend. Is that fair on the opposition? or Is it better reporting them and having them being checked before they play WC! The only point I see in Waqar`s argument is that Let those bowlers chuck till this WC. We can check them later. Quite silly opinion for a person of his stature!ICC must differentiate between the bowling action of a fast bowler and a spinner. Former can't spin using fast-bowling techniques and actions and the spinner cannot bowl as fast as the former.
I agree the ICC should change rules slightly for the spinners. Its a science an art. Its is harder to learn than fast bowling.