LAHORE: Team management of the Pakistan cricket team has taken a risk by keeping Mohammad Hafeez in the squad for the third Test against New Zealand, starting on Nov 26.

Hafeez is currently recovering from hamstring injury and has to appear in a test being conducted in London on Nov 24 in connection with his suspect bowling action.

He was reported for a suspect action in the first Test against the Kiwis in Abu Dhabi and was not selected for the second Test in Dubai due to a hamstring injury.

A press release issued by the PCB states, “All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is returning home (Pakistan) tonight (Wednesday), from where he shall proceed to Loughborough University, the latest of ICC accredited facilities for testing on bowlers with suspect actions, on Nov 23 for his appointment for tests on Nov 24.

“After tests at Loughborough on Nov 24, Hafeez shall fly back directly to Dubai from Birmingham on Nov 25,” said manager Moin Khan, adding, “If physically fit, he shall be in contention to regain his spot for the third Test against New Zealand at Sharjah.”

Selectors must consider Imran Farhat for third Test, ODIs

Moin told the Pakistan television that the team management was hopeful Hafeez would be given all clear as the match officials had only reported four of his deliveries as being suspect.

Under the ICC rules, bowlers may only straighten their bowling arm by up to 15 degrees.

If the bio-mechanical tests prove his action is illegal, Hafeez will be suspended from international cricket and will have to undergo remedial work on his bowling.

The PCB, instead of taking risk with Hafeez, should have named some other player for the third Test to give him proper time for getting back to proper frame of mind after going through bowling test in London and recover from the hamstring injury.

It will also be difficult for the PCB to conduct his fitness test for hamstring injury as he has to arrive in the UAE on the 25th and the Test will start on the 26th.

Pakistan had initially picked four opening batsmen for the series but the number reduced to two as Ahmed Shehzad and Hafeez got injured. Now, Shan Masood and Taufiq Umar are the only opening batsmen available with the squad.

This is an ideal opportunity for Pakistan to give another chance to Imran Farhat. He had been named to have played Pakistan’s series against Zimbabwe last year but withdrew his name due to his wife’s illness.

After that, he was not recalled to the national side despite the fact he equalled great Hanif Mohammad’s record of scoring back-to-back triple centuries in the premier domestic event, and still he is going well for the Habib Bank in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Silver League, accumulating 335 runs at an average of 47.85 with one century and two half centuries.

The selectors preferred Taufiq and Shan for the current series, who had no noteworthy performances to support their selection.

Published in Dawn, November 20th , 2014