Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal gets January 24 date for assessment of remodelled bowling action
Tuesday 13 January 2015 12:29, UK
Pakistan are confident Saeed Ajmal will be cleared to return after an assessment of his bowling action on January 24.
The spin bowler was banned by the International Cricket Council after his action was reported during August's Test series in Sri Lanka.
Ajmal, who was ranked No 1 among one-day international bowlers at the time of his suspension, last month abandoned plans to return for the World Cup as work on his action continued.
The 37-year-old will be officially assessed in the Indian city of Chennai later this month, and Mohammad Akram, head coach of the Pakistan Cricket Board's national academy, said: "He is well as we are confident that he will clear the test.
"We feel he is ready for re-assessment," Akram told ESPNcricinfo. "We took time and didn't push hard for his return because the idea was to make sure he is bowling within the limit.
"His career doesn't end with the World Cup, what's important is that he continues to play cricket even after the World Cup as cricket is his bread and butter and he has serviced Pakistan in very difficult time."
Under ICC rules bowlers can bend their elbows up to 15 degrees in delivery, and Ajmal's flex was found to be regularly above the limit.
He will be free to play international cricket as soon as his remodelled action is approved.
