India and England Have No Positive Attitude Towards Pakistan Cricket, Says Zaka Ashraf

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Zaka Ashraf has alleged that India and England are the reason behind the suspension of spinners Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez. Ashraf said that he warned the PCB not to send Hafeez to India for unofficial test in Chennai.

"I had already warned the PCB not to send Hafeez to Chennai for the biomechanics test because India and England both have no positive attitude towards Pakistan cricket," Ashraf was quoted as saying by The Dawn. "I asked PCB to send Hafeez to Australia, but they didn't pay any heed. Now you can see Hafeez cannot bowl during World Cup," he added.

On Sunday, Hafeez failed in unofficial testing of his bowling action in India after six of his deliveries were found to have elbow extension of over 15 degrees. Hafeez was suspended last month from bowling in international cricket.

"I still believe the bowling action of both Saeed Ajmal and Hafeez are legal because in the past they cleared the test, and it [the current scenario on their bowling action] is all a drama hatched by India and England to attack Pakistan's best spin-bowling department ahead of the World Cup," Ashraf said.

While Hafeez still has a chance to make it to the World Cup as a batsman, Ajmal's absence will badly hamper Pakistan's chances in the quadrennial event to be held in Australia and New Zealand in February-March.

Ajmal was banned from bowling in international cricket by the ICC in September. The 37-year-old off-spinner withdrew from the World Cup squad after he failed to completely correct his action. He appeared before a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) committee on December 27 to inform them of his decision.