ICC suspends Hafeez from bowling over illegal action

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday declared the bowling action of Mohamad Hafeez illegal. All-rounderHafeez has been reported with a suspected illegal bowling action during the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi early in November.

In a statement posted to the cricket regulatory body's website, the ICC confirmed that Hafeez's action is illegal and he has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.

The statement read, "The International Cricket Council today confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez to be illegal."

"The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations."

It added that Hafeez, who was reported after the first Test match against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last month, can apply for a re-assessment after he has modified his bowling action in accordance with clause 2.4 of the Regulations for the Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions.

The analysis was performed on 24 November by the ICC’s accredited team of Human Movement Specialists using the National Cricket Performance Centre, Loughborough.

Hafeez is the second Pakistani behind Saeed Ajmal, also an off-spinner, to be reported in a major crackdown on bowlers with suspect actions the ICC launched in June this year.

Both Hafeez and Ajmal were included in Pakistan's preliminary squad for the upcoming World Cup.The latest setback weakens Pakistan's spin attack which was already jolted by Saeed Ajmal's suspension.

The ICC World Cup commences in Australia and New Zealand on February 14, with Pakistan facing arch-rival India in their first Group B game a day later at Adelaide.

Greenshirts' captain Misbah-ul-Haq had said “Ajmal has been our trump card for the last five six years and his suspension is a big jolt for us.”

Hafeez’s action was also reported during a Twenty20 league in India in September this year, but the PCB said the bowler did some remedial work in the national cricket academy in Lahore.

He was not reported during the 2-0 win over Australia which finished last month.

Hafeez’s action was cleared after being reported in a one-day match against the West Indies in Brisbane in 2005.

Before the Australia series Hafeez said he has been bowling with the same action for 11 years.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Judicial Commission of Pakistan approves transfer of 3 IHC judges

84,000 registered HIV cases in Pakistan, none reported from Taunsa this year: health minister

FO says Cambodia has agreed on early repatriation of 54 Pakistanis arrested following scam centre raid

What the?

Dec 07, 2014 12:13pm

GOOD! Get him outahere!

Recommend 0

Sayyar Khan

Dec 07, 2014 12:14pm

Good job ICC you guys can get rid of him.

Recommend 0

salman khan

Dec 07, 2014 12:16pm

only pakistan bowlers are illegal why?.......isnt ashwin illegai....isnt swann.... big three is going well

Recommend 0

dr vimal

Dec 07, 2014 12:20pm

ALl hafeezes are bent more than legal. Only Pakistanis worship them

Recommend 0

anshul

Dec 07, 2014 12:22pm

Now watch for anti bcci and big3 comments lolz without giving a thought his action is false as per the rules

Recommend 0

Khopdee

Dec 07, 2014 12:22pm

One more chucker out!

Recommend 0

Prince

Dec 07, 2014 12:22pm

This is all conspiracy by ICC right before the world cup. ICC is so biased and discriminatory. Its time for India, Pakistan, SriLanka and Bangladesh to come together , support each other to boycott 2015 World cup. Only way to bring ICC down on their knees.

Recommend 0

Aun Ali

Dec 07, 2014 12:23pm

Is it only Pakistanis ICC see or is it media that reports Pakistani only??? Curious!!

Recommend 0

amad

Dec 07, 2014 12:23pm

Gr8, operation clean up to free the game from chuckers. PCB guys stop sleeping and improve domestic setup.

Recommend 0

Nomez

Dec 07, 2014 12:25pm

Good ban whole the team and get rid of Pakistan from the worldcup altogether.

Recommend 0

salman khan

Dec 07, 2014 12:31pm

if u cant play them then ban them............hahahaha

Recommend 0

concerned_Cit

Dec 07, 2014 12:32pm

Thanks to india.

Recommend 0

Wah re wah

Dec 07, 2014 12:39pm

Chalo one more crook is out of the game

Recommend 0

A Pakistani

Dec 07, 2014 12:40pm

Good, the big three now coming out with their true face.

Recommend 0

khan

Dec 07, 2014 12:48pm

You must be kidding. And now Hafeez banned. They simply want Pakistan not to succeed in the world cup. They are wary of our team. PCB must take a strong stand to get the two bowlers back or bycott the world cup.

Recommend 0

M.M.Sherazi

Dec 07, 2014 12:50pm

Each time before World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Team is targeted in various forms and shapes....such tactics shall never mean that Pakistan cannot win World Cup.

Recommend 0

Allaisa

Dec 07, 2014 12:52pm

In the beginning it was the bottle caps (ask Imran about it) and now chucking.

Recommend 0

hyat

Dec 07, 2014 12:55pm

before world cup they wanna get rid of every good basteman/bowller from team green so they can win easily.

Recommend 0

hyat

Dec 07, 2014 12:57pm

@Nomez thanks

Recommend 0

Vishnu Shankar

Dec 07, 2014 12:57pm

To all those people moaning about this decision 1. Please note that it is scientifically proven that hafeez bends his arm and thats the reason why he has been banned. The results of the test is shared with home cricket body, ICC and the player. If he have any dispute on the testing methods he can always take this up to the "Court of Arbitration for Sport". 2. PCB is the only cricket body who don't have any formal establishment to put a check on chuckers, there is no formal awareness program, no system to fileter out the chuckers at an early age etc. The rest of the top 8 have bodies/committees to put a check on chucking at grass root level and also into their domestic setup. When I can understand that people do get upset at the fact that many pakistanis are called for chucking accept the fact this is brought upon you by the PCB. People are still raging about Saeed Ajmal called out for chucking but no one is willing to objectively reason about the fact that he actually chucks and there is scientific evidence to back up the same. For the sake of future of spin bowling, for the future of cricket the earlier we can weed out these illegal actions the better it will be.

Recommend 0

Shezad

Dec 07, 2014 12:57pm

Every time Pakistan is pushed against the wall they come back stronger. There are alot of other bowlers (in the Big 3) who have a glaringly suspect action, but would never be reported.

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Dec 07, 2014 12:58pm

ICC please let us know who can play for Pak ?

Recommend 0

Hasan

Dec 07, 2014 12:58pm

Alright I accept that hafeez's action might be illegal! But why dont they just report any of big three's bowlers? I have always seen ashwin bowling with full sleeves. It won't hurt if they just run a check on him too.

Recommend 0

Googlie

Dec 07, 2014 01:09pm

Somebody needs to check the reliability and validity issues of ICC testing methods! What is the margin of error? With modern technology with proper manipulation, one can very easily get the desired results! There is nothing wrong the use of technology, but the problem lies in the intent of the user and the procedures employed!

Recommend 0

Laddoo

Dec 07, 2014 01:09pm

If you can't play them then trap them (Amir, Asif). BTW the tabloid, news of the world, that trapped Amir and Asif itself went out of business for illegal phone and wire tapping. How ironic. And if you can't trap them then ban them. If all else fails refuse to play with them on security grounds LOL

Recommend 0

waqar

Dec 07, 2014 01:10pm

Good, now we can replace him with Fawad Alam

Recommend 0

Haider Rehman

Dec 07, 2014 01:10pm

Good for Pakistan

Recommend 0

arun

Dec 07, 2014 01:14pm

if PAK thinks this a conspiracy then plz stop playing with the BIG-3. Stop having the bilateral or any kind of engagements with them...!!

Recommend 0

arun

Dec 07, 2014 01:15pm

well Hafeez is banned only from bowling and not from batiing....!!!!

Recommend 0

Ample reverence for Saudis

Dec 07, 2014 01:16pm

My ample gratitude to ICC for performing the job of PCB to eliminate this street cricketer who swallowed veteran Abdul Razaq & Shoaib Malik without any apparent burp and with the consent of a lobby like Misbah and so on!

Recommend 0

effy

Dec 07, 2014 01:28pm

time for Kamran Ghulam and Zafar Gohar to replace Hafeez.

Recommend 0

Mirza

Dec 07, 2014 01:32pm

It is all fair and dandy but how about the ill-gotten wickets? Once the thief is caught is he allowed to keep all his stolen good?

Recommend 0

Hello

Dec 07, 2014 01:35pm

This is a Zionist conspiracy backed by evil India and the United States.

Recommend 0

Hello

Dec 07, 2014 01:37pm

@Hasan It is duty of umpires to report. But as per Pakistanis all Umpires are also biased. Let's see if Dar reports any.

Recommend 0

Nisar

Dec 07, 2014 01:39pm

don't worry, they ban Ajmal, we came out with Yasir and Babar, now Hafeez. Bring it on BCCI, we will still survive, keep continuing with your jealousy.

Recommend 0

Ample reverence for Saudis

Dec 07, 2014 01:48pm

Another part of a horrible conspiracy against a cricket playing Muslim country.The conspirators utilized every possible way to eradicate cricket in this part of world while Firing on the team and banning its prominent players in regular intervals. Pakistan has been survived so far because of being a Giant among cricketing nations otherwise it could have been a part of history if it were a small team.

Recommend 0

Abbas Ali

Dec 07, 2014 01:49pm

Thank you ICC.

Recommend 0

Zia

Dec 07, 2014 01:52pm

Thanks big three specially close neighbors

Recommend 0

CricketOne

Dec 07, 2014 01:57pm

@Vishnu Shankar Filtering the chuckers at the grass root level ? Tell me how many filters are there at the schools in India ? I have been in Australia for the last 15 years, and yet to see one at any school. Do they literally have filters in the grass, where no one can see them ?

Recommend 0

Farhan Wadood

Dec 07, 2014 02:00pm

This is a result of India's conspiracy against Pakistani bowlers.

Recommend 0

Kranti

Dec 07, 2014 02:04pm

@salman khan because pakistanis are the most cunning bowlers in the world.

Recommend 0

Mickey

Dec 07, 2014 02:07pm

Good !

Recommend 0

salman khan

Dec 07, 2014 02:12pm

@Vishnu Shankar dont give lectures to us....we know you indians are include in the big three......why the rule just before the world cup.do those things which are important,ie philip hughes death,make out some rules about that,,,,dont blame pakistani spinners..

Recommend 0

aleem

Dec 07, 2014 02:23pm

Recommend 0

Skeptic

Dec 07, 2014 02:23pm

Unless ICC makes the process of testing transparent all across the board,history will tell us that Pakistani players have been used as punching bags yet again out of India's fear that Pakistan might win the world cup.We all know which country who has the leverage in ICC and love for Pakistani's to stand behind this utterly disgraceful sham of inquisition.

Recommend 0

Calcutta Man

Dec 07, 2014 02:24pm

@salman khan : "...if u cant play them then ban them............hahahaha" After losing to Zimbabwe, do yourselves a favour --- don't make embarrassing statements ..

Recommend 0

Meet

Dec 07, 2014 02:24pm

@Ahmed one who doesn't chuck, simple can't you simply agree with rest of the world for once

Recommend 0

Calcutta Man

Dec 07, 2014 02:28pm

@Laddoo News of the World broke the law (...and paid for it). That doesn't mean those three Pakistani players did not sell their country. What's your point?

Recommend 0

Eli

Dec 07, 2014 02:43pm

Good opportunity for Pakistan to bring in youngsters in the team....

Recommend 0

kuldeep

Dec 07, 2014 02:43pm

@Nisar wow man..... I just can only laugh at ur comment...... I was a great fan of ajmal.... But if his action is not legal then he must go...... I dont think this will affect pak team..... U got talent..... Hafeez can bat alright!

Recommend 0

Talha

Dec 07, 2014 02:45pm

The interesting thing here is that with Ajmal ICC told the degree of bent in his arm for his offie, dosra and faster one but in Hafeez's case ICC didn't even mention the degree of bent in his arm and just gave the verdict without any proof.

Recommend 0

Abdullah

Dec 07, 2014 02:50pm

what PCB dont want to do...ICC have done... good job!!! but knowing PCB they will now spend money on getting Hafeez cleared only to be banned again...& whats more they will keep picking him as a batsman.....what a predictable shame.... pls focus on the youth & give Hafeez a much needed break

Recommend 0

white noise

Dec 07, 2014 02:52pm

Look at all these 'experts' in this forum claiming Hafeez to be innocent and conspiracy and bla bla bla, don't you guys have a job or something? stop whinging and let him fix his action. its not the end of the world.

Recommend 0

rahul

Dec 07, 2014 03:01pm

@Laddoo so you're saying that the fault lies with everyone else except the Pakistani players. They haven't done anything wrong (Asif, Amir) and the aforementioned bowlers. Is that what you're trying to imply?

Recommend 0

Janu Not-German

Dec 07, 2014 03:03pm

@anshul I dont think it has anything to do with BCCI or Big 3. But the fact that these players played, received ICC awards before their actions were declared illegal just speak of how incompetent ICC has been

Recommend 0

rahul

Dec 07, 2014 03:04pm

And all those who are happy that Hafeez would be out of the team then try to understand. He has been only banned from bowling. Not from batting. Just like Kane Williamson of New Zealand who is now barred from bowling but he can still bat and play in the team.

Recommend 0

Omar

Dec 07, 2014 03:27pm

@anshul why dont you check Ashwin and Harbhajan action and then see the result yourself. are you saying that its the problem of only 7 full time cricket nations and the big 3 bowlers are all within the limit......

Recommend 0

Omar

Dec 07, 2014 03:34pm

@Vishnu Shankar fair point and agree with you. but then why dont you check the bowling action of Ashwin and see what the result is. if he is within the limit then allow him continue to bowling and this will also be a shut up call who is blaming big 3 for all this but guess what this will never happen as he is for sure bowling with more than 15 degree of bend arm and this is what we all are frustrated with......i am totally with Hafeez that all the bowlers need to be checked and then you will see that the rules will be bend to give allowance to big 3 bowlers......cricket is becoming a joke....why dont you just ban all the 7 other countries and play cricket between the big 3 only......

Recommend 0

Omar

Dec 07, 2014 03:36pm

@Hasan very good point Hasan but they will nevertest Ashwin, Harbhajan, Moeen Ali etc as then they have to change the rule and will allow the bowlers to bowl with 40 degree :-))

Recommend 0

Asad

Dec 07, 2014 03:40pm

Blessing in disguise. Now hopefully we can get rid of Hafeez.

Recommend 0

Omar

Dec 07, 2014 03:43pm

@Calcutta Man i tell you what the point is. your supreme court mention your bcci president and three players but still they are in power and playing cricket..... now tell me what the point is

Recommend 0

Laddoo

Dec 07, 2014 04:22pm

@Calcutta Man Please don't lecture us about morality. Srinivasan and his company India Cement are clearly involved in illegal betting in IPL where even Dhoni is implicated as being captain of CSK and yet there is not even a word about this from ICC.

Recommend 0

Laddoo

Dec 07, 2014 04:26pm

@arun Oh please. We all know what BCCI did to CSA and Haroon Lorgat. Meddling even in other boards internal functions to force who is elected as president and who is not. You call this fair play LOL.

Recommend 0

Independent

Dec 07, 2014 04:26pm

@Talha Bhai - Let PCB ask for proof - if they dont have have it yet.

Recommend 0

Independent

Dec 07, 2014 04:29pm

@Omar : Harbjhan is not in the Indian team. In the past he had been called and he had to go for correction. Ashwin is in Australia for Gavaskar - Border trophy where neutral umpires will operate. In case he has a flaw he will be called for his action - by the umpires and he will be asked to do the needful. Why are you grumbling ?

Recommend 0

Independent

Dec 07, 2014 04:32pm

@Omar : You did not read the report. The Supreme Court of India has cleared BCCI chief of being involved. However, it has also said that Mr. Srinivasan cannot escape the fact that he has to take responsibility as well. But what has that go to do with Hafeez's action ?

Recommend 0

Dec 07, 2014 04:40pm

@salman khan Dont talk like a loser. Harbajan had illegal action and he was dropped. Ashwin got action checked and was cleared. Dont cry victim all the time

Recommend 0

A shah

Dec 07, 2014 04:44pm

My pakistani brothers let's stop playing the conspricy game and blaming India and just teach our boys to bowl.

Recommend 0

Dec 07, 2014 04:50pm

@Prince - don't bring India when pak is in trouble - we (India) can handle our case alone - you do yours - don't tie you up with us, we don't need you

Recommend 0

Aeyaz Kayani

Dec 07, 2014 05:13pm

Seriously, we should stop referring to India or any team as arch-rivals. That designation made sense when there actually was a cricket rivalry. When both sides had solid and consistent teams. Now there is hardly any such rivalry. Political tensions mean that we don't even play as much. Moreover, Pakistan is basically a wildcard at this point. The team performance is so thoroughly inconsistent that they can play like the most outstandingly brilliant team in one match and completely fail in the most spectacular fashion in the very next. No one, including the Pakistanis themselves know which type of Pakistan will show up on a particular day. I wouldn't have believed that it was possible for the same team to perform in such wildly different ways if I hadn't seen it myself.

Recommend 0

aleem

Dec 07, 2014 05:23pm

Well, I am a Pakistani and all my family & friends & colleagues are extremely happy at this, finally we got rid of a useless player, he has no place now in the team and wil be dropped from worldcup squad! yayyy!!

Recommend 0

Amir-india

Dec 07, 2014 05:37pm

If pakistan thinks that hold world is conspirating against them then they should stop playing it. After all show some dignity.try football or something else were the world is not conspiring against u

Recommend 0

Sreenath

Dec 07, 2014 05:58pm

@salman khan a typical die hard fan!

Recommend 0

Calcutta Man

Dec 07, 2014 06:03pm

@Omar Supreme Court did NOT name any player. It said the prelim report mentioned three players but there was no conclusive proof...

Recommend 0

omar

Dec 07, 2014 06:04pm

@Independent just like Harbhajan, Ajmal was also tested before and got cleared but this new testing level is all together a different test. If Ashwin and Harbhajan are bowling within limit then its fine if not then why are you so afraid of??? If they (Ajmal and Hafeez) are chuckers then same applies for your bowlers. Now do you have guts and test them but not to worry your big 3 will never allow this to happen so sleep in peace and win matches/cups with those chuckers and become world champions

Recommend 0

omar

Dec 07, 2014 06:10pm

@Independent this is to your second comment. One of your countrymen mentioned about our players got involve in corruption and i responded to him. Coming to your point, may you please announce the name of three players who has something to do with the match fixing (according to your supreme court). For sure i will respond to the way your countrymen will comment. They bought the issue of corruption and i replied to him the same way (i can discuss sreesanth or jadeja ot azharuddin but this is for another day)

Recommend 0

bobby

Dec 07, 2014 06:13pm

@Shezad How would you justify that if others are playing with a suspect action, Hafeez should continue as well!! The problem is at the grassroot level where there is no monitoring body for actions. Ajmal is a prime example as his bend is 45 degrees!!!

Recommend 0

bobby

Dec 07, 2014 06:14pm

@hyat You really think that Pakistan is that big of a threat considering that spinners won't even play that big of a role in Australia!!

Recommend 0

Javid

Dec 07, 2014 06:22pm

No worries Hafeez, U r a strong batsman, doesn't matter whether u bowl or not. concentrate on your batting, your batting is more important than your bowling. Stay strong.

Recommend 0

LOUDSPEAKER

Dec 07, 2014 06:52pm

@waqar No, it will not be Fawad Alam, our selectors has already provided the alternate solution by including Shoeb Malik in the squad.

Recommend 0

rakesh

Dec 07, 2014 07:35pm

@Amir-india excellent I completely agree with u

Recommend 0

Ali

Dec 07, 2014 07:58pm

I don't understand why ICC is after spinners. ICC should give reason for suspecting spinners action. They are not like fast bowlers which are real threat to Batsman. Spinners on the contrary are safe to play. We should appreciate their way of bowling, being safe playable. ICC should go after fast and. Medium fast bowlers and check their action to save lives young players like Hughes. ICC I am awaiting your comments. Readers please protest to ICC to withdraw their decision against Ajmal,Hafeez. If not Pakistan should boycot World Cup. We are NO. 3 on ICC list and our absent will be felt by the World Cup participating teams. Pakistan has to put its foot down against these corrupt ICC officials.

Recommend 0

Ravi Dallas TX

Dec 07, 2014 09:21pm

Malinga's bowling action should be checked. I always felt he simply "throws" the ball at bowlers.

Recommend 0

Khurram Jadoon

Dec 07, 2014 11:27pm

@Vishnu Shankar why these tests/rules only before WC, and why now after big3 in charge of the ICC? Next for WC they will make boundaries 70m or less, no bounce in wickets etc just to help those IPL mediocres. If they want to win this way, just ban rest of the world and win all world series/cups.

Recommend 0

crickethijacked

Dec 08, 2014 12:21am

ICC has promised to demolish cricket from earth...so much discrimination

Recommend 0

mrmela

Dec 08, 2014 12:50am

@arun Cricket is not a sport anymore since Indian takeover! Eventually Indians would be playing with themselves. It would be easier then to fill their trophy bag!

Recommend 0

Shamir Nasser

Dec 08, 2014 01:13am

Very fruitful step. Expel all the teams that may pose threat to India or Australia. In the last worl cup it was a great decision to keep Amer and Sami out of the world cup that provided a smooth way for India to win the world cup. These Pakistani bowlers are very disturbing to Indian batting. They must be sidelined to secure India's supremacy.

Recommend 0

kirther

Dec 08, 2014 01:56am

Young and budding players should be given priority and proper training and grooming programmes must be initiated under professionally trained and recognized trainers.

Recommend 0

pakfan

Dec 08, 2014 02:18am

@LOUDSPEAKER Mailk is done. Get Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam for Australian bouncy wickets.

Recommend 0

Imran A.

Dec 08, 2014 03:25am

Even though I'm not a fan of Hafeez, I still feel the way ICC is acting is very fishy. In this modern age of technology, can ICC please post some pictures of Hafeez bowling and show us the date of the match, the angle measurement greater than 15 degrees. We would like to see the transparency with other bowlers who are being spared.

Recommend 0

adil jadoon

Dec 08, 2014 03:50am

The game sucks. Stop playing cricket.

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Dec 08, 2014 03:52am

What goes around comes around ..... one day the otherside will feel this ..... anyway in predicted this before the start of Aus serious and they time it so well that it has written all over it that its not controlled by icc

Recommend 0

kashmir singh

Dec 08, 2014 05:18am

Ashwin must be next. Lets see what happens in this series between india and asutralia. if they don't see his elbow bend then either umpires are scared or biased.

Recommend 0

PakSal

Dec 08, 2014 05:25am

He doesn't have a place in the team anymore, get him out of the team straight away.

Recommend 0

Aam Aadmi

Dec 08, 2014 03:47pm

@Laddoo My dear friend, plz try and understand IPL is a local tournament. It has nothing to do with ICC. Similarly Hafeez and Ajmal can bowl as much as they want in Pakistan's domestic cricket. I don't understand why Pakistani's r so much interested in IPL always.

Recommend 0

Harsh

Dec 09, 2014 02:26pm

Pakistanis try to bend rules everywhere. 60% of young bowlers in junior leagues of Pakistan are chuckers. The only mistake of ICC is that it did not act before. Hafeez should have bounty on his head.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.

NTL and Unikrew Solutions establish additional strategic understanding for potential transformation opportunities

Collaboration brings together complementary strengths to jointly pursue high-impact opportunities in Pakistan and international markets.

Indus Cloud signs strategic partnership agreement with PTCL to deliver cloud excellence

The partnership marks a significant step in Indus Cloud’s and PTCL’s joint efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s cloud and data centre infrastructure and expand access to enterprise-grade digital services in the country.