International cricket: Ajmal withdraws from World Cup
Monday 29 December 2014 12:43, UK
Saeed Ajmal has ruled himself out of the World Cup because he needs more time to remodel his bowling action.
The off-spinner was suspended from international cricket after his action was ruled illegal in tests in September.
The PCB had asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier this month to reassess Ajmal's action but have decided to delay it after tests revealed he still needs remodelling.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan said: "Ajmal withdrew himself.
"We didn't want to take a risk with Ajmal's career because latest reports suggested his elbow extension was not still within the 15 degrees allowed by the ICC despite all the remedial work on his action.
"We were aware that if he took the official ICC test in a bid to make the World Cup squad and failed it he could be suspended from playing for one to two years and that would mean the end of his career."
Under the ICC rules, bowlers are allowed to flex their elbow by 15 degrees but Ajmal's tests revealed his elbow flexed by 43 degrees.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Hafeez, who was suspended earlier this month over his bowling action, will have an unofficial test in India.
The World Cup in Australia and New Zealand starts on February 14th.
