Javed urge PCB to support Ajmal after controversial interview

The Pakistan legend also hit out at the Pakistan Cricket Board for issuing show cause notice to veteran off-spinner

ISLAMABAD: Legendary batsman Javed Miandad on Friday urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to bind every spinner to wear a half-sleeve shirt in matches saying that this would help check illegal actions.

Talking to APP, Miandad said by adopting the move, it would enable the World cricket governing body to have a close check on the bowling actions of all off and leg spin bowlers, whose bowling actions might exceed the 15- degree extension limit.



The former cricket great while reacting to reports of ICC action against off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has recently expressed his opinion on the ICC policy on bowlers with suspect bowling actions, said it was off-spinner's personal view and one should respect it instead of making it an issue.

"Why doesn't the ICC monitor Indian Harbhajan Singh's action?



"Have the ICC Chairman N Srinivasan ever paid any attention to these(Indian) bowlers and took any action against them?

Is it not the case that impression is getting stronger that the ICC has double standards?" he questioned.



Miandad said that Ajmal’s claim about Harbhajan might have some authenticity, as he was the victim of the same 15 degree rule.

“If he (Ajaml) has spoken about Harbhajan's action now, it means there is something suspicious as a victim can judge the other better than anyone else."

The Pakistan legend also hit out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by saying that Ajmal should be supported at this time as he had served Pakistan cricket for a very long time.



"Taking Ajmal's statement more serious than the bowler is tantamount to disgracing him.

“He already feels disgruntled for being ignored after he changed his bowling action, and now if  you consider to take an action against him, what sort of support it would be for him?." he added.

Miandad also advised T20 skipper Shahid Afridi to improve his performance and focus on the upcoming T20 series rather than the T20World Cup.

"Afridi needs to improve in both bowling and batting, as his performance was below par in the T20 series against Zimbabwe," he said.

Speaking about the national test team's series win against England, Miandad said it was the right decision for Shoaib Malik to retire from TestCricket when he gave an all-round performance in the series.

"Now he should focus on 50 overs and T20 cricket, and I am sure he will do well in these formats too," he said.

He also hailed Misbah-ul-Haq and Younus Khan saying that they did well in the series against England. "It is Younus performance that earned him a place in ODI squad," he said.