Pakistan Cricket Board officials have defended the ICC's decision to suspend Saeed Ajmal until such times as he can remedy his illegal bowling action.

By Amir Husain (12th September, 2014)

The world of cricket was jolted with news that Pakistan’s premier off-spinner and world renowned practitioner of the Doosra, Saeed Ajmal had been suspended by the ICC after an independent analysis found his bowling action to be illegal. He was duly suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect and his career put on hold until such time as remedial action could be taken to fix the issue.

A veteran of more than 200 international games and with 446 wickets to his name, 36 year old Ajmal who is also the top ranked ODI bowler, was reported by the match officials at the end of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle and the ICC ordered him to be tested at the Cricket Australia National Cricket Centre in Brisbane. The test was conducted by the ICC’s accredited and lead team of Human Movement Specialists using the same testing protocol that were earlier followed for the testing of Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.

The ICC’s decision to suspend Ajmal was thus based upon the results of these tests and was officially attributed to the fact that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations. However, as PakPassion.net found out through its sources privy to information that flexion on average at the ICC’s analysis in Brisbane revealed that Saeed Ajmal’s average degree of ‘elbow extension’ was found to be 30 degrees, with some deliveries reaching the 40 degrees mark.

The Pakistan off-spinner who was clearly taken aback by the news of the suspension reacted in his usual optimistic fashion stating that he was confident that he would be ready to represent Pakistan in the 2015 World Cup. According to a PCB Official who is in touch with the Pakistan player, “Ajmal remains confident that within a month he can remodel his action and be cleared to bowl once again for Pakistan. Whether this actually happens remains to be seen but he will receive full support from the Pakistan Cricket Board.”

The race to restore Saeed Ajmal to the Pakistan team, however will not be won by words alone and to help Ajmal in his efforts, the PCB is leaving little to chance. It has referred the matter to a recently formed Illegal Bowling Action Committee, which will consider the matter and revert with their views and/or recommendations. According to the PCB official the five man committee, which comprises of Mohammad Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ali Zia, Aleem Dar and Dr. Sohail Saleem will convene soon to assess the matter and will also have some expert help in the shape of former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

The PCB official added “The Illegal Bowling Action Committee will be meeting with Saeed Ajmal very soon and will be analyzing his bowling too, together with former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who we hope will arrive in Pakistan soon to work with Ajmal. The Committee will be setting up an agenda next week to work with Saeed Ajmal and to work out a plan to hopefully get Saeed’s career back on track.”

Saeed Ajmal is no stranger to controversy regarding the legality of his action. He has been reported before but has managed to clear his name. However, doubts were once again raised during his stint with Worcestershire in the recent county season. This has led many, including former Pakistan players, to believe that Ajmal’s recent predicament is a logical outcome of such public pressure. The PCB official was at pains to point out that this was not the case and that the ICC’s actions were in accordance with its own agreed rules and regulations and not influenced by any outside elements.

“Those that are saying this is some sort of conspiracy against Pakistan cricket are being unfair. Saeed Ajmal is not the only bowler who has been suspended from bowling or even banned. The laws are clear and simple and the ICC is simply following the law. There is no question of bias at all from the ICC as far as the Pakistan Cricket Board is concerned. There is a well-defined process in such cases and the ICC has made the process clear for everyone. The PCB does not agree at all with those that are saying that the timing of Ajmal’s suspension is suspicious as it’s ahead of the 2015 World Cup. Such allegations are not doing any favors to Ajmal or to Pakistan cricket.”

It is obvious that the current crisis represents the toughest challenge faced by Ajmal. The gravity of charges levelled against him is underscored by some reliable evidence and analysis and it will take a gargantuan effort for Ajmal to make a promised comeback. Whilst the fans and admirers of Saeed Ajmal and Pakistan may wish this to be true but the reality of the matter according to the PCB official was not very encouraging. “Despite Ajmal’s positivity about returning to international cricket, to get the suspension overturned would be an uphill task” concluded the PCB official.

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