'Saeed Ajmal faces huge challenge to remodel his action before the World Cup'

Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal will find it tough to correct his illegal bowling action before next year's World Cup, says Nick Knight.

Ajmal has been banned from cricket by the International Cricket Committee after analysts at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane found that he straightens his arm by more than the permitted 15 degrees in all the deliveries he bowls.

The 37-year-old – reported after Pakistan’s first Test loss to Sri Lanka in August – says a medical problem means he has a bend in his arm and he remains confident of playing in the World Cup, which starts in February, in Australia and New Zealand.

Challenge

But former England opener Knight told Sky Sports: “What’s important is the wording within the statement we’ve been given – it’s key because it talks about every delivery.

“We’ve had incidents in the past where players have been called for the doosra, so you can’t bowl the doosra. The problem for Saeed is it’s every delivery – so he’s going to have to go back and remodel his action.

“That’s going to be a heck of a challenge for Saeed and Pakistan have a Test match and one-day series starting against Australia in October.

“Sachithra Senanayake had the same problem in July; he’s now back playing so he has very quickly adjusted his action. The remedial work has worked.

“But Saeed can’t just carry on playing and bowling the off-spinner and leave the doosra and keep working at that; it’s going to take a little while to put this right.”

Spotlight

Ajmal – who is the top-ranked bowler in one-day internationals with 183 wickets to his name at 22.18 apiece – will have to modify his action and pass another test before he'll be allowed to take part in next year's World Cup.

Former England batsman David Lloyd said the reassessment process could be a big hurdle given the spinner’s age.

“Ajmal has always been under the spotlight,” he reflected. “Personally I think that his action has got worse, so he’s got work to do.

“He’s 37 years of age so he’s no spring chicken and it may be (although I’m not an expert on these things) that more jerk has come into his action.

“I think it is going to be very difficult for him at his age to come back; he’s got to modify his action but it’s not a case of coming straight back in then. He’ll have to be reassessed.”

Sad

Live County Championship Cricket

Ajmal claimed 63 wickets in nine County Championship Division Two matches this season for Worcestershire, where he helped team-mate Moeen Ali develop as a spinner.  

Former England all-rounder Dominic Cork said any of Worcestershire’s opponents would find it difficult to gain redress should they feel hard done by.

“That’s an issue that I’m sure the clubs will have to take up with the umpires that officiated at that time,” he said.

“It’s a sad day in a way but it’s the right decision if that’s what they’ve come to. Second division sides that he bowled out will have to try and see what they can do, but I don’t think they can do anything.”

Watch Nottinghamshire take on Yorkshire in the race for the County Championship title – live on Sky Sports 2.