I don't see any problem with my action: Hafeez

Published November 20, 2014
Hafeez will be tested at Loughborough University. —AP
Hafeez will be tested at Loughborough University. —AP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan offspinner Mohammad Hafeez believes he doesn't extend his elbow beyond the allowed 15 degrees and will be cleared of a suspect bowling action in England next week.

Match officials reported Hafeez's bowling action after Pakistan won the first test against New Zealand by 248 runs last week when the offspinner bowled 22 overs.

“They have shown me the (four) deliveries they deemed suspected and those are normal to me,” Hafeez said in Lahore on Thursday.

“They think after watching those particular deliveries with naked eyes, it exceeds the 15-degree limitation.”

Hafeez will be tested at Loughborough University on Monday before he flies back to the United Arab Emirates where he will be in contention for the third test against New Zealand, starting Wednesday.

“It's a protocol and I have to go through with the test, there's nothing complex in it,” he said.

Hafeez was ruled out of the ongoing second Test after he pulled a hamstring during his unbeaten century in the second innings at Abu Dhabi. He was also reported for a suspect bowling action during the Twenty20 Champions League in India in September.

“Nothing is different in my bowling from what I've been doing for the last 11 years,” Hafeez said.

“I never try to add a variation into my bowling, so I don't see any difference.”

Hafeez is the second Pakistan offspinner to be reported during international matches. The ICC suspended Saeed Ajmal for his illegal bowling action in September.

Ajmal was also unofficially retested at Loughborough University last week where despite showing improvement, the offspinner is yet to come close to the allowed 15-degree mark on his elbow extension. But Hafeez said he always reckoned himself as a specialist batsman, who could also bowl a bit in international matches.

“I never considered myself as an offspinner and honestly I never even rated myself as a bowler,” he said.

“I hope to continue play my natural cricket as I have been playing.

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