Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal’s bowling action has been found to be illegal and he has been suspended from bowling in international cricket.
The offie, who was set to play a big part in Pakistan’s two-test series against Australia in October, will now be unable to play in the series in the United Arab Emirates.
He was expected to have a strong impact against an Australian batting line-up that capitulated against Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin last year, and showed similar problems against Zimbabwe’s attack in the recent one-day series in Harare.
Saeed Ajmal is the top wicket-taker at the grounds in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where they will play Australia in October, and is one of their top performers in recent times.
Ajmal was tested by the ICC in Brisbane after being reported in the Test series against Sri Lanka for a suspect action.
The testing revealed that his bowling exceeded the allowed 15 degrees of elbow bend, and therefore is an illegal action. It is unclear how long he will be out of the game, but he is almost certain to miss the Test series against Australia.
The full release from the ICC is below:
Saeed Ajmal’s bowling action found to be illegal
The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations
Saeed Ajmal’s bowling action found to be illegal – Cricket News Ajmal was reported after the first Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle last month.
The International Cricket Council today confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal to be illegal and, as such, the player has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.
The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations.
Saeed, who was reported after the first Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle last month, can apply a re-assessment after he has modified his bowling action in accordance with clause 2.4 of the Regulations for the Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions.
The analysis was performed on 25 August by the ICC’s accredited team of Human Movement Specialists using the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.
What do you think Roarers? Does this give Australia a big boost ahead of the Test series?
nicqolas
Guest
Its fair for cricket to have everyone playing fair. However playing fair will include everyone......I do have have a problem when these bowlers are suspended just before they play the aussies. It kinda sends the wrong message about Australian cricket. Soo all chuckers should be attended to and dealt with immediately.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
If he actually believes that then he misunderstands the testing, which is testing for a flex of 15 degrees not a fixed bend. You could have your arm bent at 90 degrees as you bowl the ball if it stayed at the same angle throughout. He may have an arm that's naturally bent but that doesn't mean he's not a chucker. Whether the angle at the elbow goes from 160-180 degrees or 130-150 degrees during delivery, it's still a 20 degree straightening of the arm, and that's what is being tested. There is no medical evidence that can override that.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I'm guessing it comes down to better testing that involves better data from actual test matches themselves to compare against, that make it harder for a bowler to get away with bowling within themselves during the testing as they can have details including RPM on the ball and angle of spin and all that sort of stuff from a test match and require them to bowl in testing in a way that matches that. I suspect that back in 2009 when he was first reported and tested they had less ability to force them to bowl the same way they do in games when they do the testing, so it was easier to pass testing and then get back to chucking in international cricket again.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Just one of many, so no rats to be found here. From the cricinfo site: Recent drive against faulty actions August 2014 - Sohag Gazi reported, to be tested in Cardiff August 2014 - Prosper Utseya reported, to undergo testing August 2014 - Saeed Ajmal reported, banned in September July 2014 - Kane Williamson banned after tests found his action illegal July 2014 - Sachithra Senanayake banned, undergoes remedial work December 2013 - Shane Shillingford suspended from bowling, cleared in March 2014; Marlon Samuels prohibited from bowling quicker deliveries October 2013 - Johan Botha cleared by Cricket Australia after being reported during a domestic match May 2013 - ECB suspends Glenn Querl, Jack Taylor from bowling April 2013 - CA bars seamer Cameron Gannon
carnivean
Roar Rookie
The ICC used to have a single testing facility, in Perth. As part of their renewed efforts to remove chucking from the game (as the story is no longer Murali vs haters, but to oh god look at them all chuck) they have removed the accreditation from Perth and given accreditation to 3 other facilities, such as the one in Brisbane. Ajmal is about the 6th or 7th bowler to be banned by the ICC in the past year (Samuels, Shillington, Williams, Sennanayake are the ones I can remember). The SLC (Sri Lanka) and PCB have announced initiatives to rectify developing bowlers with dodgy actions. The ECB (England) banned 3 players from county cricket I think. The ACB (Australia) have been doing this for years and banned Cameron Gannon last year. The ICC have decided that the proliferation of mystery spinners has opened them up to adverse media coverage, and decided that doing something is better than being embarrassed at the World Cup next year.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Same. Oh well. As you say, it should still be a great series.
Julian King
Roar Guru
At the age of 36, Ajmal should be thinking about a career post cricket. Shouldn't have too many problems finding a job though. He does have more than 15 degrees. Bam!
Chui
Guest
Salim Malik? Is he back?
Quitwhinging
Guest
there is no conspiracy, he chucks it!!! quit looking fro excuses
Rellum
Roar Guru
It seems the ICC have decided to clamp down on actions.
Vistro
Guest
If you cannot play them, ban them. #ICCLogic #Ajmal #Amir #Asif ,ok the other two were found guilty for bring the game into disrepute in 2010, but since the Big three took over it seems to me that the BCCI has the score to settle with the PCB with the backing of the two puppets and @ this rate nobody is safe outside of the big three.
Yeah, this doesn't make a lot of sense.
Tatah
Guest
I think with questions such as this the politics of the situation and the personalities involved have as much if not more to do with the outcome than the action itself. Now to my untrained eye his doosra was delivered with an arm bent more than the great Jockey Wilson when he was chucking darts for world titles. However, to actually get to a point where they banned the guy there must have been a lot of negotiation between countries to get there.
Vustro
Guest
After taking 445 international wickets in all 3 formats Now @ICC found that the bowler who is number 1 bowler in ODI had an illegal bowling action. is that a joke ? I smell rat here!
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I was too, couldn't wait to see if the likes of Warner and Smith could take that next step and prove themselves against the best spinner going in helpful conditions. Should still be a great series though, Rehman and Hafeez will test the Aussie batsmen also.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Sorry, that is in reply to biltongbek below.
Rellum
Roar Guru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4msUN81wWg&t=1m7s One example starting at about 1min
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
murali was a chucker too! ICC is gutless. Daryl Hair was ostracised 4 correctly calling one specific delivery a throw
Rellum
Roar Guru
It seems the ICC have decided to clamp down on actions
Can someone please explain to me why if a bowler is chucking it takes years before anything is done about it? Surely if he has been doing it for years then these issues should have been addressed much earlier?