In a major blow to Pakistan Cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially banned Saeed Ajmal from bowling. This was after the highly successful mystery spinner was found to be chucking following reports of bio-mechanical tests conducted on him recently in Brisbane.
Saeed Ajmal celebrates the wicket of Dean Elgar | Cricket Photo
Saeed Ajmal was reported for suspect action after the first Test at Galle which was played last month. Ironically Saeed Ajmal has been consistently been the world’s best bowler in all the three formats of the game with no batsman really able to dominate him!
The ICC has revealed that it is not just the doosra but also the off break which was bowled with a flex that exceeded the allowed 15 degree level of tolerance. The ICC which has been sleeping for many years and allowing several spinners like Marlon Samuels to bowl quicker ones at unusual speeds of 110 kmph has finally woken up one has to say. The world’s cricket governing body seems to be on a rampage of late taking down several bowlers with suspect action such as Saeed Ajmal, Sachithra Senanayake, Kane Williamson and Sohag Gazi.
The future for Saeed Ajmal looks to be bleak. Yes he has a second chance to ask for a re-assessment of his bowling action and once he is cleared can play international cricket. But for that to happen, Saeed Ajmal will have to modify his bowling action to bowl within the 15 degrees flex!
Saeed Ajmal has already taken 178 Test wickets in 35 matches, 183 wickets in ODIs at an outstanding economy rate of 4.13 and 85 wickets in 63 T20Is at an economy rate of 6.34. He has won several matches and series for Pakistan and now the teams that have lost against this team will certainly feel cheated and in England’s case vindicated!