Rediff
Dubai, May 25: The International Cricket Council on Sunday confirmed that the bowling action of Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal was found to be legal in an independent test and the player can, therefore, continue to bowl in international cricket.
During a comprehensive analysis it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension in Saeed's bowling action for all deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted in the ICC regulations.
That analysis was performed by professor Bruce Elliott, a member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists, at the School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, University of Western Australia, Perth on Thursday, May 14.
Saeed is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket subject to the following:
- The effect of Prof. Elliott's report, and any report from a biomechanical expert, cannot be to clear him without limitation in the future. That the effect of Prof. Elliott's report is simply to confirm that Saeed is capable of bowling with an action which complies with ICC regulations.
- That, as with all bowlers, whenever Saeed bowls in a match in the future, his action will be under the scrutiny of the match officials.
- According to ICC regulations, the match officials will use the naked eye to determine whether his action complies with the Laws. It should be noted that the permitted degree of elbow extension is 15 degrees and that this level of tolerance was set at the point at which such elbow extension will begin to become noticeable to the naked eye. Accordingly, any degree of extension which is visible to the naked eye must and will be reported.
- Commenting on the results of the analysis and also re-stating the ICC's policy in relation to suspect illegal bowling actions, ICC General Manager -- Cricket, David Richardson said: "Saeed Ajmal can continue to bowl in international cricket on the basis he uses an action consistent to that used in the latest independent analysis of his action.
"However, it is important to emphasise that no bowler is ever 'cleared' as it is impossible to predict how a player might deliver the ball in the future.
"All bowlers are subject to further reporting if the match officials are of the view that they have concerns about whether a delivery or deliveries conform to the Laws of Cricket when observed with the naked eye."
The right-arm spinner was reported by Emirates Elite Panel umpires Asad Rauf and Billy Bowden as well as third umpire Zameer Haider and fourth umpire Nadeem Ghouri at the conclusion of Pakistan's second ODI against Australia in Dubai on April 24.
A copy of Prof. Elliott's report has been forwarded to the Pakistan Cricket Board.