LAHORE: Though Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez hopes to get his suspect bowling action cleared from the International Cricket Council (ICC) accredited lab in Loughborough, UK, some doubts remain making it a difficult task for him.

“I hope I will be cleared after the test at Loughborough to stage a comeback into the national team,” 34-year-old Hafeez told reporters after arriving here from the UAE, where he was reported for a suspect bowling action in the first Test against New Zealand of the ongoing three-match series.

But when he elaborated that the umpires had reported him for only four deliveries, off which he claimed two wickets and the remaining two yielded chances, it seems that the deliveries might have been bowled with beyond 15-degree arm bend, which is not allowed by the ICC.

“I also saw those four suspect deliveries but found nothing wrong. However, the umpires have seen all that. I got two wickets and earned two chances from those four deliveries,” Hafeez said.

Asked whether he would like to play purely as a batsman if he didn’t succeed in clearing the test, Hafeez while saying he would try to remove the flaws in his bowling, indicated he never claimed to be a regular bowler.

“I’ve been bowling for the last 11 years with the same simple style but luckily I am getting spin. So, my bowling has played a role for Pakistan,” Hafeez said, hinting he will prefer to play as batsman in case of failing the test.

Meanwhile, the right-handed batsman said he had recovered from the hamstring problem he suffered before the second Test against New Zealand.

“If my action is cleared, I will be available for the third Test against New Zealand,” the player added.

Hafeez departs for the UK on Nov 23 to appear for the test on his bowling action on Nov 24 and he will go to Dubai on Nov 25. If cleared by the Loughborough lab, the 39-Test player will be available for selection for the third Test, according to team manager Moin Khan.

The Test starts in Sharjah, just a day after he reaches Dubai.

Published in Dawn, November 21th, 2014