After being cleared by the ICC in May 2009, Ajmal went onto help Pakistan capture the World Twenty20 title the same year. PHOTO: FILE AFP
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to seek an explanation from the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding Stuart Board’s comments against ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.
Ajmal recently claimed 13 wickets in a first-class match while representing Worcestershire against Essex in a county match.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan had posted a photo of Ajmal on Twitter, implying that the bowler exceeded the permitted 15 degrees of flex while delivering the ball.
Broad seemed to concur with Vaughan stating that “bowlers can bowl very differently in a lab while being tested compared to needing wickets in middle”.
The comments had not gone down well with both Ajmal and the PCB, as the bowler was cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after a series of tests on his bowling action, which were conducted in an authorised lab five years back.
Ajmal had already sought clarification for the comments, while the PCB is planning to involve the ECB in the matter.
When Zaheer Abbas – special advisor to PCB Chairman Najam Sethi – was contacted, he confirmed that the board will be writing to its England counterpart soon.
“We’ll write to the ECB in order to seek clarification of Broad’s comments against Ajmal,” Abbas told The Express Tribune.
“What Broad did was wrong. The players are not allowed to comment like that as they are bound by the contracts of their respective boards and should act appropriately.”
The 36-year-old Ajmal has taken 169 wickets in 33 Tests and 182 scalps in 110 ODIs. His T20Is record is impressive as well, with 85 wickets from 63 matches.
‘Broad comments need stern scrutiny’
Another senior PCB official expressed his distaste with the development as well, and stressed that the ICC should also look into the matter since Ajmal had been cleared by the global governing body.
“The ICC must take notice of this incident,” said the official. “Broad’s comments should be scrutinised and he should be penalised for ridiculing a guest player playing in their country.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2014.
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