The Pakistan Cricket Board has officially confirmed that off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez was reported against suspect bowling action, after the recently concluded Galle Test in Srilanka. This was the second time that Hafeez was reported by the on field umpires for a suspect bowling action. Hafeez has bowled 20 overs scalping two wickets, helping Pakistan to win the first test at Galle in Srilanka.
As per the International Cricket Council’s regulations, if a bowler is found to be breaching the 15 degree stipulated bowling rule for the second time, he would be banned from bowling for a period of one year. The bowler will only be allowed to undergo a reassessment test after one year, if he has been found guilty of the offense for a second time. Hafeez, must undergo a assessment test in one of the ICC accredited Bio-Mechanics lab with in 21 days of the receipt of the official orders. The bowler will be allowed to bowl in the matches, until the outcome of the results of the official tests.
Earlier in November, last year, Hafeez was reported by the umpires for a suspected bowling action in a match at Abu Dhabi against the New Zealand. Later in December, the off-spinner was found guilty of breaching the 15 degree arm extension limit, after undergoing tests in a ICC accredited lab in England. The all rounder was found extending his arm extension limit to 31 degrees, far more than the permitted levels of 15 degrees.
Hafeez underwent remedial works for a change in his bowling action at the Chennai Bio-Mechanics lab. However, he was not able to qualify the unofficial test conducted in Chennai. Later on, the Pakistan Cricket board has requested the ICC to retest Hafeez in February so that they can use the services of the off-spinner in the World Cup. However, thereafter Hafeez was ruled out of the world cup due to a calf injury, the ESPN cricinfo reports.