Star off-spinner failed informal test
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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) went on the back-foot regarding Saeed Ajmal after the off-spinner couldn’t prove satisfactory results in an informal test held by the country’s cricket governing body, Dawn has reliably learnt.
Instead of hastily applying for Ajmal’s reassessment of his bowling action by the ICC to clear him before sending the names of World Cup probables on Jan 7, the PCB has asked the banned spinner to play domestic matches to check if he’s improved on his action.
A few days back, the PCB wrote to the ICC, seeking permission to send Ajmal for another bio-mechanic test at an ICC-accredited laboratory.
But it is learnt that cricket’s world governing body wrote back to the PCB, asking it to decide the date for reassessment itself instead.
The PCB’s decision to ask Ajmal to play some matches in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy was prompted after an informal bio mechanic test was conducted but the 37-year-old’s results weren’t up to the mark.
Bowling under match conditions will be ideal to check Ajmal’s progress, whose arm bends at 35-40 degrees — much higher than ICC’s allowed limit of 15 degrees.
Published in Dawn December 4th , 2014
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Comments (23) Closed
Dec 04, 2014 08:58am
What the? Leave Him! The Team can do without Him.He will just take Place of someone that deserves it more than Him.
He is already raking millions of Rs every month from a Bank in Punjab for doing NOTHING. He was promoted as Sr Vice President of the Bank ahead of a Guy that had worked over 30 years.
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Dec 04, 2014 09:55am
Don't understand why they are in a hurry to send him for tests. Just to get him fit before the WC? What if he doesn't play the WC? Heavens are not going to fall without him. It seems they are purposely doing this to get rid of him by getting him banned for one year when he fails the official test.
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Dec 04, 2014 10:19am
Big 3 conspiracy....
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Dec 04, 2014 10:27am
In any other era, Ajmal could not have played domestic cricket - leave alone international cricket. His action is deeply flawed and there is no way he can be the bowler he was if he changes his action. Most of the turn he got took advantage of his "unique" action. He snuck in under the shadow of Muralitharan - who should not have played cricket either.
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Dec 04, 2014 10:44am
Once a chucker, always a chucker!
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Dec 04, 2014 10:55am
Very sad PCB. These players are asset for PCB, without this PCB is nothing. This is point where Pakistan and PCB should say if this is the case we will not participate in Work Cup. But who cares. PCB employees work for salary and they also have kids and wife. Do job and go home that is the working style.
But remember a day is coming when everything will be evaluated based on what is in heart not in needy hands.
I will request Pakistan nation till which time we will be treated like this by International Cricket Board, boycott for ICB and we should not send Pakistan team to participate in World Cup.
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Dec 04, 2014 11:17am
I think they are rushing him to do these tests so he fails and then he becomes history to the cricketing world...imho.
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Dec 04, 2014 11:49am
ICC must remove all the records of ajmal
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Dec 04, 2014 12:06pm
To be fair, it wasn't PCB who was in a hurry to get Ajmal tested. In fact, PCB wanted Ajmal to play a few domestic matches before taking the next test. It was Ajmal who refused to play domestic games and wanted to take the tests again.
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Dec 04, 2014 12:55pm
Dr Salaria and Sarah and several others had so much to say about BCCI being scared of Ajmal and orchestrating this to get him sidelined before the World Cup. Wonder where they are now?
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Dec 04, 2014 01:04pm
..comeon Ajmal... you are a good guy... you had a good time at the top. Now at the age of 37+ take retirement & move on ... England/Australia/SA are very likely to hire you as a consultant
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Dec 04, 2014 02:17pm
Get yourself a surgery to your elbow for the heck of it and then you will be placed as "legitimate" for the same false reasons as Murlitharan fooled many.
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Dec 04, 2014 03:10pm
@Usman Lol. Yes Pakistan can gladly pull out from cricketing world. This will not impact much on the game
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Dec 04, 2014 03:22pm
This is a trap to kill our talent on every stage, remember the power is in india's hand, please guys try to understand
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Dec 04, 2014 04:05pm
PCB must forget Ajmal's services for World Cup. PCB should know that BIG THREE do not want Ajmal to play WC.. He should say "BYE, BYE" to International Cricket. My opinion may upset some people, but this is a reality and one must face it.
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Dec 04, 2014 04:58pm
@kashif umar : Yes Kashif, it is surprising that PCB is in Indian hands. The informal testing done by PCB has found that Ajmal chucks.
There must be BCCI moles in PCB. I bet you cant give a better conspiracy theory than this.
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Dec 04, 2014 05:11pm
@kashif umar So Ajmal failed in a local test done in some facility in Pakistan. And that is India's fault?
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Dec 04, 2014 05:12pm
@Usman What is ICB?
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Dec 04, 2014 05:47pm
@Rogers Evans
Haven't you read the Dawn report dude? This guy CHUCKS, that's CHEATING in most parts of the world....
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Dec 04, 2014 07:45pm
I am not sure how he can be termed as 'star off-spinner' now, all the wickets he took were with his illegal action.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:56pm
this is the failure of PCB and its entire structure. Some one said, once a chucker is always a chucker. I absolutely agree with that. This guy has been bowling since he was child and then professionally bowling since he was teenager. For God sake he is 36+ of years age. What makes you think he will change now, and even if he does change, he will not be as effective as before. He himself admitted, his DOOSRA was bending more than what was allowed. The issue is not Saeed Ajmal but many other bowlers who are coming out of the system with these technical issues and not being spotted. Every team/bank/club they play for, they are all interested in how many wickets the player is taking and completely ignoring if the bowling is legal or not. What is PCB doing in this regard? where are domestic coaches, scouts and senior ex players who could spot these deficiencies at an early stage rather then when they are already in the team.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:59pm
@kashif umar So what you are saying that he was not chucking at all and it is all India's fault? Please put some perspective in your comments. Always blaming the outsider.
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Dec 04, 2014 09:35pm
The problem in Cricket is there is no way to check how much an arm bends in real time. Even if he passes now, there is no guarantee he won't bend his arm while playing beyond the allowable limits. Best way is let him 'chuck' but put a handicap like may be he bowls 5 yards behind the bowling crease?
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