PCB extends remedial work on Saeed Ajmal

Ajmal was found to have a 43 degrees extension of the elbow while bowling, 28 degrees more than the permissible limit of 15 degrees.

After claiming that suspended off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was

>ready to undergo independent tests on his new bowling action, Pakistan Cricket Board has now decided to extend the remedial work on his action for another 15 days.

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan had said recently that there had been a marked improvement reported in Ajmal’s bowling action. He had said that >according to former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq , Ajmal was now bowling within the permitted limit of 15 degrees and was ready for an informal test on his action.

But, apparently things have not gone as smoothly as expected and Ajmal was last week stopped from playing in a domestic match for his department.

It was announced after a meeting of the cricket committee of the PCB that Ajmal would undergo further remedial work.

“The PCB has decided to extend Saeed Ajmal’s remedial work by another 15 days,” the PCB said in a statement.

“After further remedial work in the next fortnight, Ajmal shall be sent over to an ICC approved high quality lab in England for testing to ascertain the exact degree of improvement in his bowling action,” it said.

Ajmal, 36, has been Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in all three formats for the last three years but under the new ICC protocol for bowling actions, he was first reported by match officials during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle in August.

And, after he failed a bio-mechanic test in Brisbane conducted under the ICC protocol, he was suspended from bowling in international cricket until his action is cleared again.

The PCB chief told a press conference recently that the Board was keen to put Ajmal through a proper process so that he is available for selection before next years’ World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.