Hafeez hoping for good results after bowling action test

Pakistan all-rounder was reported for suspect bowling action in Sri Lanka ODIs

KARACHI: World’s best ODI all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez underwent bowling actions test on Wednesday at the Loughborough University in England, after he was reported during the Sri Lanka series last month.

Hafeez recently upstaged Bangladesh’s Shakibal Hasan as the top ODI all-rounder, just a day after he was reported for an illegal bowling action.

According to sources, Hafeez was asked to bowl four overs during the bowling action test and the report is likely to arrive in two weeks.

The 37-year-old has been reported twice earlier and came back after rectifying his action, which doesn’t allow you to bend your arm more than 15 degrees.

Hafeez will face a suspension if he is found to be bowling with an illegal bend in his arm while delivering the ball. He will be asked to correct his action and then will be allowed to bowl in international cricket.

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal believes Hafeez is an important player for the Pakistan and that is why his action is observed so closely by so many. “Hafeez, who was named the top all-rounder, is one of the main players for Pakistan and should pass the test as his bowling plays a huge part in Pakistan’s victories,” he said.

The off-spinner, who himself was reported for a suspected bowling action and then rectified it, added: “Hafeez has cleared his test before and he will do it again and will be allowed to bowl for the Pakistan team.”

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board and Hafeez himself are confident that the all-rounder will pass the bowling action test. “The test went good and I bowled some balls, which, according to me, were bowled with a legal action, so hoping for a good result,” Hafeez told The Express Tribune.