Pakistan's 2015 World Cup preparations have been dealt a shocking blow with the news that Mohammad Hafeez has failed to clear the 'unoffical' test on his bowling action which was held in Chennai recently.

By Saj Sadiq (3rd January, 2015)

Pakistan all rounder Mohammad Hafeez's recent tests on his bowling action in Chennai have revealed that for some deliveries his elbow straightens more than the permitted 15 degrees.

PakPassion.net has learn that Hafeez's elbow extension in the 11 deliveries that were counted for the tests was as follows :-

15, 16, 16, 16, 15, 18, 17, 19, 13, 13 and 12 degrees.

It is understood that Hafeez bowled the first six deliveries over the wicket and the last six around the wicket, although one of the deliveries in his second over was discarded from the test results.

Hafeez's assessment concluded that his elbow is generally straight at upper arm horizontal but the arm then starts to bend as the upper arm approaches vertical, and then the elbow straightens above the legal limit on some deliveries, leading up to the eventual release of the ball.

The assessment in Chennai further hampers Pakistan's World Cup plans as the other first choice off spinner Saeed Ajmal has already ruled himself out of world cup contention and it's now very likely that Hafeez will not be sent for the official test with the ICC ahead of the World Cup.

The Pakistan Cricket Board hierarchy now has to weigh up it's options ; does it risk sending Mohammad Hafeez for an official test on his bowling action before the World Cup, but if there is a subsequent failure at the ICC official test that would mean Hafeez being banned from bowling and not being able to partake in a re-test before 12 months. Or on the other hand and which is understood to be the more likely option, Hafeez is selected as a batsman during the World Cup.

The selectors though now find themselves in a quandary over Hafeez's selection. Ideally they would have wanted Hafeez's all round skills in New Zealand and Australia adding balance to a struggling fifty over side, but now with Hafeez not being permitted to bowl, they will have to assess Hafeez purely as a batsman against his competitors at the top of the order.

Pakistan's preparations for the World Cup have been severely hampered by injuries and suspensions due to illegal bowling actions and some former Pakistan players have given Misbah-ul-Haq's team very limited chances of winning a trophy they last won in 1992.

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