Saeed Ajmal May Still Make it to Pakistan's World Cup Squad
Saeed Ajmal was banned by the ICC in September 2014 for a suspect bowling action.
Saeed Ajmal could be cleared to play in the upcoming cricket World Cup according to coaches present during the test conducted on the banned Pakistan off-spinner at the ICC-accredited laboratory here on Friday.
The coaches at the centre disclosed that "following the test, the bowler's action show marked changes and his landing of his left foot on the ground and almost fully side on action predict that he has every chance of getting cleared by the ICC experts".('Pakistan Without Ajmal is Like Ice-Cream Without Chocolate')
The report has been sent to the ICC headquarters in Dubai.(World Cup 2015: Full Coverage)
According to the coaches, Ajmal was tested not only for his off-spinners but variety of balls like doosra, carrom balls and the quicker ones.
"All these deliveries, according to the video clips, are well below or within the permissible limits," those present at the centre said.
Ajmal was watched by coaches of BCCI's National Cricket Academy when he was asked to bowl 36 deliveries using different kinds of balls, they added.
The off-spinning strike bowler has 178 wickets in 35 Tests and 185 in 111 ODIs.
Ajmal's test was done on January 24 at the centre after he was referred by the ICC for a complete test followed by a survey report.
Soon after completing his test, Ajmal said that "earlier I used to bring my bowling arm from behind my body. Now it is more of side on. Likewise, my front foot used to be on the air but now I keep my delivery strike on the ground."
The bowler credited former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq for helping him out.
"Saqlain had motivated me highly and inspired me to bring in the changes in my action by going to the nets on daily basis to work for over three hours. He had said that with his new bowling action, he had bowled over 12,000 deliveries at the nets and played a couple of domestic matches," said Ajmal.
The 37-year-old Ajmal was suspended from bowling in international cricket last September for illegal bowling action.