ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has hired Carl Crowe, a UK-based bowling coach, for Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez’s upcoming bowling action test.

Crowe started working with Hafeez during the national side’s warm up match against Worcestershire, confirmed the PCB.

The bowling coach has worked with West Indies off spinner Sunil Narine, who later cleared his bowling action test conducted by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

PCB hopes to get Hafeez cleared before the start of the one-day series against England. Hafeez is expected to fill in the crucial all-rounder slot, which lies vacant after Shahid Afridi’s retirement.

Hafeez, last year, was banned from bowling for 12 months after his action was found to be illegal for the second time since November 2015.

The former Pakistan captain was initially reported after the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in the same month and was subsequently banned after an independent analysis found his action to be illegal.

He was cleared to bowl in April last year after changing his action but the part-time bowler was again reported by match officials for a suspect action during a Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle in June 2015. “Hafeez is entitled to appeal any procedural aspect of an independent assessment that has led to this automatic suspension,” the ICC said in a statement.

“However, only after the expiry of this one-year period will he be entitled to approach the ICC for a re-assessment of his bowling action.”

As per ICC rules, if a player who has been reassessed and cleared is reported a second time, within two years of the date of commencement of the first suspension, he or she will then receive a minimum suspension of one year, and can apply once more for reassessment afterwards.