Ajmal to face disciplinary action over anti-ICC outburst

ICC spokesperson says everyone is equal in the eyes of cricketing laws

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal will face disciplinary action over his statement against the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) assessments of illegal bowling actions.

Ajmal was one of the bowlers to be reported for a suspect bowling action and the test results showed that he exceeded the allowed limit of 15 degrees. Since his return to the international arena after remodelling his action, Ajmal has lost his effectiveness as an off-spinner. He has played for the Pakistan team since April.



Ajmal, in an interview to a private sports channel said that ICC has double standards and off-spinners are only being targeted by the body. He further stated that Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was not reported even after bowling outside the allowed elbow-bending limit.

"Why just target off-spinners?" questioned Ajmal. "Why not the left-arm spinners, leg-spinners or fast-bowlers?

"I can tell you that I have been through this bowling assessment process so many times and have watched and studied this issue so closely that I can vouch that if tests were carried out, there would be many other bowlers whose bowling actions would exceed the 15 degrees extension limit.



"I don't want to take names but there are still bowlers, including fast bowlers, who are violating the new rules but no one is looking at them.

"If they put Harbhajan Singh through a proper bowling assessment test now, I can safely tell you he will exceed the 15 degrees limit."

The 38-year-old also expressed suspicion on the timing of the reports, stating that he felt it was motivated by a desire to destabilise the Pakistan team before 2015 World Cup.

"Just before the World Cup they ruled me and Hafeez out," he said.



"I find it strange that Bilal Asif plays his first two ODIs and doesn't take many wickets, so no one reports his action. As soon as he takes five wickets, his action is reported by the umpires. They find fault with just two deliveries. I find this a joke.

However, an ICC spokesperson cleared the body’s stance on illegal actions saying that everyone was equal in the eyes of the cricketing laws.

"We have a robust and transparent process to test bowlers," the spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. "It is consistent to all countries and all types of bowlers. Indeed, a fast bowler has been reported and players from various nations have been reported."



"We have five ICC accredited testing centres around the world in which members of ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists conduct tests using the ICC Standard Analysis Protocols. These protocols are the same for anyone who undergoes assessment of his bowling action. As a result, following assessments, some bowlers have been cleared to continue bowling; some have needed to re-model their actions."

"Furthermore, a player can within seven days after receiving the independent assessment report seek a review of any procedural aspect of his case, but no player has done so."