Ajmal to begin remedial work on action next week
Saqlain Mushtaq to arrive in Lahore on Sept 22 to help off-spinner .
KARACHI:
Suspended Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been asked to report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) on September 15 by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in order to begin remedial work on his action.
The board had earlier asked the Illegal Bowling Action Committee – comprising Muhammad Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ali Zia, Aleem Dar and Dr Sohail Saleem – to come to a conclusion regarding the matter. It was unanimously decided that an appeal would be ineffective and the only option was to modify the bowler’s action.
“We want to discuss the case in detail with Ajmal and have asked him to report to the NCA on September 15,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune.
“Obviously he is at a low after being suspended from international cricket, and it’s really important to lift his morale by discussing the independent analysis which could help correct his action.
“The most important person in this whole process will be Ajmal, so the key is to enlighten him about the problem so that he can be fully involved in making adjustments.”
Legendary off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will be arriving in Pakistan by September 22 to assist Ajmal.
“I’m not a magician, so it’s difficult to give a time frame,” stated Saqlain. “I’ll be in Lahore from September 22 where I’ll assess Ajmal’s reports and act accordingly. It’s certainly a challenge to rescue Ajmal, but I’m optimistic of easing his troubles before the World Cup.”
Interestingly, Shane Shillingford of West Indies, Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson have all received coaching from Saqlain, but have also been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over suspect bowling actions.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan believes Ajmal’s suspension is the result of continuous play and the PCB’s failure at managing the player.
“Ajmal was not given a breather and was played non-stop in the last few years by the PCB, selectors and team management,” said Mohsin. “As a result he had to compensate due to the overuse of his muscles.
“The board should’ve handled him with care, because now our bowling is exposed. We’re already without Umar Gul, while Muhammad Irfan is prone to injury yet again due to mismanagement.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2014.
Suspended Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been asked to report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) on September 15 by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in order to begin remedial work on his action.
The board had earlier asked the Illegal Bowling Action Committee – comprising Muhammad Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ali Zia, Aleem Dar and Dr Sohail Saleem – to come to a conclusion regarding the matter. It was unanimously decided that an appeal would be ineffective and the only option was to modify the bowler’s action.
“We want to discuss the case in detail with Ajmal and have asked him to report to the NCA on September 15,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune.
“Obviously he is at a low after being suspended from international cricket, and it’s really important to lift his morale by discussing the independent analysis which could help correct his action.
“The most important person in this whole process will be Ajmal, so the key is to enlighten him about the problem so that he can be fully involved in making adjustments.”
Legendary off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will be arriving in Pakistan by September 22 to assist Ajmal.
“I’m not a magician, so it’s difficult to give a time frame,” stated Saqlain. “I’ll be in Lahore from September 22 where I’ll assess Ajmal’s reports and act accordingly. It’s certainly a challenge to rescue Ajmal, but I’m optimistic of easing his troubles before the World Cup.”
Interestingly, Shane Shillingford of West Indies, Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson have all received coaching from Saqlain, but have also been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over suspect bowling actions.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan believes Ajmal’s suspension is the result of continuous play and the PCB’s failure at managing the player.
“Ajmal was not given a breather and was played non-stop in the last few years by the PCB, selectors and team management,” said Mohsin. “As a result he had to compensate due to the overuse of his muscles.
“The board should’ve handled him with care, because now our bowling is exposed. We’re already without Umar Gul, while Muhammad Irfan is prone to injury yet again due to mismanagement.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2014.