ICC clears Pak off-spinner Saeed’s bowling action
By ANIMonday, May 25, 2009
LAHORE - The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday cleared the bowling action of Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal who was reported for a suspect action during the one-day international series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month.
“Saeed’s action is found to be legal in an independent test and the player can, therefore, continue to bowl in international cricket,” the Daily Times quoted a spokesman for the ICC, as saying.
He added that during a comprehensive analysis it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension in Saeed’s bowling action for all deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted in the ICC regulations.
The analysis was performed by Professor Bruce Elliott, a member of the ICC panel of human movement specialists, at the school of sport science, exercise and health, University of Western Australia, Perth on May 14.
The umpires reported Saeed’s ‘doosra’ delivery, which spins away from right-handed batsman, during the second ODI in Dubai but he was allowed to continue bowling till Elliott’s assessment of his action was completed.
Saeed, however, will be permitted to continue bowling at the international level subject to certain conditions.
“The first of which is the effect of Elliott’s report and any report from a biomechanical expert, cannot be to clear him without limitation in the future.
The effect of Elliott’s report is simply to confirm that Saeed is capable of bowling with an action which complies with ICC regulations,” added the ICC spokesman.
Second, whenever Saeed bowls in a match in the future, his action will be under the scrutiny of the match officials.
And finally, according to the ICC regulations, the match officials will use the naked eye to determine whether his action complies with the Laws of Cricket.
The 33-year-old spinner was named in the Pakistan’s squad for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in England next month.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam had backed Saeed’s bowling action and had criticised what he called inconsistency in the ICC’s process of dealing with bowlers with illegal action. (ANI)
