'Banned' Mohammad Hafeez Awaits Visa to Travel to India for 'Informal' Bowling Tests
All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez was suspended for an illegal bowling action during first Test against New Zealand, becoming the second Pakistan player after Saeed Ajmal to face sanction in the past three months.
Pakistan Cricket Board is still waiting for a visa to be issued to all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez by the Indian High Commission in Abu Dhabi so that he can fly to Chennai for his informal bowling tests, an official said on Monday.
A senior official of the Board said that the PCB still planned to send Hafeez for his bowling test to the ICC accredited bowling centre in Chennai.
"We would like him to fly there as soon as possible but we are still waiting for the visa to be issued. Normally, it takes a while for visas to be issued from the IHC in Abu Dhabi," the official said. Hafeez is presently playing in the one-day series against New Zealand in the UAE but his role is restricted to batting as the ICC has suspended him from bowling in international cricket after he failed an ICC bowling test last month.
The official said that the PCB was keen to get a clear picture on whether Saeed Ajmal and Hafeez would be available for the World Cup by the end of this month.
"Saeed is doing practice and bowling daily at the National Cricket Academy and he will most likely play in the final two one-day games against Kenya," the official said.
"After he plays in these matches, the Board will decide when he should fly to Chennai for his official ICC bowling test so that we know whether his action is cleared to bowl again in international cricket," he added.
The selectors have included the names of Saeed and Hafeez in the World Cup 30 probables' list but the official said the national selectors also wanted to know their status as bowlers by the end of this month.
"If Hafeez clears his bowling test in Chennai then we will immediately apply for him to appear for the ICC test which can clear him to bowl in the World Cup," he stated.