LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has declared Pakistan off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez’s bowling action legal and allowed him to bowl in international matches.

However, field umpires will keep an eye on his bowling action.

The PCB is not anticipating Hafeez’s induction into the Pakistan team which has reached Australia for three Tests and five One-day Internationals after losing both Tests against New Zealand.

“Hafeez is in Islamabad from where he is going to Karachi to play for his departmental team Sui Northern Gas Pipelines in the ongoing Super Eight round of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy,” a PCB official on the condition of anonymity told Dawn.

“The off-spinner will resume bowling from the Quaid Trophy match during which selectors watch him,” the official said.

The ICC in its press-release stated, “On November 17, Hafeez underwent a reassessment of his bowling action at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his off-spin deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions.

“The umpires are still at liberty to report Hafeez if they believe he is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action from the reassessment.

“To assist the umpires, they will be provided with images and video footage of the bowler’s remodeled legal bowling action.”

Hafeez, who has played 50 Tests, 129 ODIs and 77 T20s, was first barred from bowling for illegal deliveries in November 2014 but was reassessed and permitted to resume bowling in April 2015.

He was again reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka (June 17-21, 2015) and was subsequently suspended for 12 months in July 2015, as he was again found bowling illegal deliveries.

“If he is reported again, he will be required to undertake further analysis of his bowling action at an ICC accredited testing centre,” the ICC stated.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2016