Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been cleared by the ICC for his bowling action but has ruled out his involvement in the World Cup except for in an extraordinary situation. PHOTO: AFP
After being cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Pakistan’s ace spinner Saeed Ajmal has said that he is ready to serve Pakistan in the World Cup but only if an extraordinary need for him to do so arises.
The 37-year-old was named among the 30 probables for the mega event but was not drafted in the final 15-man squad due to his suspension.
Recently, the team management replaced injured Junaid Khan with Rahat Ali in the 15-man squad and for Ajmal to be considered, it would require another player being ruled out due to an injury.
However, the off-spinner stressed that he prays everyone who has made it to the tournament stays fit and does well for the country.
“I don’t want that a player gets unfit and I go in his place but if I am needed, then I’m ready to represent Pakistan,” said Ajmal. “My prayers are with the team and I hope that those who are in Australia do the job for Pakistan.”
Ajmal also quashed suggestions that he would not be as effective as he was before, stating that he would only return as a match-winner and said that he can still play for three to four more years.
The bowler also revealed that he is realistically targeting the series against Bangladesh for his return. “There are more than two months available to prepare myself for the Bangladesh series, so that is my target,” he said. “I don’t have any retirement plans right now and want to continue playing.”
Ajmal thanked his coaches – Saqlain Mushtaq, Muhammad Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed – for helping him out in a tough phase of his life and also thanked his family, friends and fans.
ICC clears Ajmal, Gazi
ICC confirmed on Saturday that, following remedial work and retests, the bowling actions of Pakistan’s Ajmal and Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi have been found to be legal, and the players can now resume bowling in international cricket.
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 in international cricket should they be found legal.
At the retests, it was revealed that the amount of elbow extensions in both off-spinners’ bowling actions for all their deliveries were found to be within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions.
However, the umpires are still at liberty to report Ajmal and Gazi in the future if they believe they are displaying a suspect action.
To assist the umpires, they have been provided with images and video footage of the two bowlers’ significantly remodelled legal bowling actions.
The retests were performed at the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai on January 24.
Ajmal was reported after the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in August, while Gazi was reported in the same month after the second One-Day International against West Indies in Grenada.
Both Ajmal and Gazi failed the initial tests, which were performed on August 25 at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, and on September 19 at the Cardiff Metropolitan University, respectively.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2015.
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