PCB suspends Ajmal’s contract

Board unhappy with off-spinner’s remarks against ICC and BCCI

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended the central contract of sidelined off-spinner Saeed Ajmal after he criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for having double standards over the crackdown against bowlers with suspect actions.

Ajmal, who was reported last year for a suspect bowling action but cleared the official tests with a remodelled action, had stated on various television channels that Indian bowlers such as Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha have suspect actions but were not being called up, whereas Pakistani bowlers were being constantly targeted.

Reacting to Ajmal’s remarks, PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan stated that he was disappointed with the 38-year-old’s stance as the PCB had done everything in their power to help him get out of the troubled period, which included the appointment of legendary spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to work with the 38-year-old to remodel his action.

“I’m disappointed with Ajmal for his remarks and the board has decided to suspend his contract,” said Shaharyar. “We’ve asked him to explain his rationale behind the outburst as the board had done everything to assist him.”

Meanwhile, Ajmal maintains that he was right to speak out against the ICC.

“I still stand by my words that there are double standards in the chucking crackdown as Harbhajan and others have dubious actions,” Ajmal told The Express Tribune. “I’ll ask my lawyer to prepare a response and we will meet with the [PCB] board members soon. I’m really thankful that the board helped me in a difficult period but that doesn’t change the reality of the situation.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2015.

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