Ajmal's illegal bowling action not a new thing: PCB

Karachi:

Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has been reported for a suspect bowling action by the match officials in the ongoing one-day series against Australia, has already faced similar charges in the domestic cricket three year back.

Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that umpires had reported Ajmal for having an illegal bowling action in April, 2006 while playing in the domestic circuit.

"The match officials had said that he needed to undergo a proper evaluation of his bowling action particularly while bowling the 'doosra' before he should be allowed to play again," one source said.

The source said after the report the bowler apparently did undergo remedial measures but as he was not an international player, the PCB didn't send him for a proper evaluation in the bio-mechanic labs in Australia.

"Ajmal was asked to appear before the bowling action review committee of the board for an evaluation of his action," the source added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has criticised the ICC's bowling action review system and also expressed surprise that the umpires had reported Ajmal after the second ODI against Australia in Dubai although he had been playing for a while now.

The PCB sources, however, said the board had conveyed to Alam to be careful with his statements and not to interfere in ICC's working.

When contacted Saleem Altaf, the chief operating officer of the PCB, said that Ajmal will undergo a review of his action within 15-days of being reported.

"We are trying to arrange for a review of his action at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) where we have cameras installed at the indoor school. If necessary he can also be sent to Australia or England for a proper evaluation," Altaf said.

The PCB has set up a biomechanics laboratory at the NCA but interestingly it does not have the required manpower expertise to operate the systems, which are yet to be installed properly.