Injured Mohammad Hafeez Flies Back Home from UAE
Mohammad Hafeez is being called back from the United Arab Emirates following a hamstring injury and also after his bowling action was reported by match officials during the first Test against New Zealand.
Experienced Pakistan allrounder, Mohammad Hafeez is being called back from the United Arab Emirates following a hamstring injury and also after his bowling action was reported by match officials during the first Test against New Zealand.
Hafeez, who is not playing in the ongoing second Test against the Kiwis in Dubai apparently due to the injury, will return home, according to a senior official of the board.
"He is coming home as he needs rest and his bowling action would also be reviewed by experts at the national cricket academy," the official told PTI.
The bowling action of Hafeez was also reported during the Champions League in India this year where he led the Lahore Lions team.
But after that incident the board cleared him to play on for Pakistan and he bowled in the Tests against Australia and New Zealand.
"Yes the board is clearly concerned with Hafeez's bowling action issue because the World Cup is getting closer and the board also has to finalize its 15-member World Cup squad in first week of January," a reliable source said.
The source said the Chairman of the board, Shaharyar Khan had also given clearance to also send Hafeez to England where he will work on correcting his bowling action with Pakistan's former Test spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq and if required will also undergo informal biomechanic Tests in Cardiff.
"First Hafeez's action will be reviewed at the NCA and then he will go to England. His injury is not that a serious matter his bowling action is more of a concern for the board," the source added.
Hafeez has been a sure selection in Pakistan's ODI and T20 squads for the last few years mainly because of his utility as an off-spin bowling which gives him an edge added to his top order batting.
"But it is clear that if Hafeez can't bowl than the selectors will find it tough to select him in any format only as a batsman," the source added.
Pakistan's top spinner, Saeed Ajmal is already in England working more on his action with Saqlain.
Ajmal recently underwent an informal biomechanic Test on his bowling action in Cardiff and although his corrected bowling action showed vast improvement but experts have advised him to work further on his action to pass the 15 degrees limit set by the ICC for elbow extension while bowling.
A board official said that it was unlikely Hafeez would play the five match one-day series against New Zealand which follows the Tests in December.