Pakistani spin bowler Mohammad Hafeez has been handed his third suspension from international bowling by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which today announced that an independent assessment had found his bowling action to be illegal.
A bio-mechanical examination of his action revealed that his arm bent more than 15 degrees for the majority of his deliveries. The 15-degrees level of tolerance is the maximum allowed under the ICC's regulations.
The ICC has said that the ban on Hafeez's bowling will be recognised and enforced by all national cricket federations for domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdiction.
"However, pursuant to Article 11.5 of the [ICC's] Regulations and with the consent of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Hafeez may be able to bowl in domestic cricket events played under the auspices of the PCB," a media release on the matter stated.
Therefore, he will be able to bowl for Peshawar Zalmi in the third edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) if the PCB allows.
Sources informed Dawn.com that Hafeez may let go of his Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) contract and work on his bowling action at National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore. He was scheduled to depart to play the BPL on Friday.
"Saddened to know the result of my bowling action from ICC, it would never pull me down, [I] will never give up, worked so hard to remodel it and will work again twice as hard to get better to serve my beloved country Pakistan and achieve more," Hafeez said in a Twitter message following the news.
Hafeez had been reported for bowling with a suspect action during the third ODI against Sri Lanka, which was played on 18 October in Abu Dhabi.
He had undergone an assessment of his bowling action on November 1 at the Loughborough University in England.
"Hafeez can apply for a re-assessment after modifying his bowling action in accordance with Clause 4.5 of the Regulations," the release stated.
Responding to the news, legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram said: "Must be painful for any all rounder if he is not able to either bowl or bat but Hafeez now should concentrate more on his batting."
"I feel when Hafeez bowls more, his elbow bends at a greater angle because he gets tired from extra bowling," Akram said while talking to media in Karachi.
