Pakistan’s off-spinning all-rounder Mohammed Hafeez, amid much secrecy, underwent ‘official’ testing on his modified bowling action at the ICC-accredited bio-mechanical centre at the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Sports sciences here recently.
The results could be out next week. If his action is cleared, he will be able to bowl again in international cricket.
Hafeez had earlier visited the city in December 2014, for an ‘unofficial’ test which he failed to clear. Those tests also gave the 34-year-old an indication of the areas to work on.
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Over the last month, he has been working on his action at Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Reportedly, he has been bowling slower through the air from a more side-on position.
The all-rounder was first reported for suspect action when representing Lahore Lions in the Champions League Twenty20 competition in India last year. He was reported again, in November, during the Pakistan-New Zealand Test in Abu Dhabi. He was subsequently suspended from bowling in international cricket.
A dissection of his bowling action by the ICC revealed Hafeez was breaching the 15 degree flexion rule.
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The Pakistani was scheduled to undergo testing in Brisbane on February 16, ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup, but then a calf injury ruled him out of the competition. Only after recovering fully from his fitness concerns did Hafeez begin working on his bowling again.
He has 2640 runs (ave. 37.71) and 43 wickets (35.23) from 40 Tests. It is in ODIs that Hafeez’s bowling has been valuable for Pakistan. He has 122 wickets at an economy rate of 4.06 from 155 games. Hafeez has also scored 4542 runs at 31.10.
Pakistan’s spin spearhead Saeed Ajmal had his remodelled action cleared in the city earlier this year.
Interestingly, Hafeez and Ajmal have been included in Pakistan's squads for all three formats during the country’s tour of Bangladesh in April-May.
Pakistan plays three ODIs, a one-off Twenty20 game and two Tests during the tour.
If Hafeez’s action passes scrutiny, it will lend an additional dimension to his cricket. It also remains to be seen if all his deliveries, including the contentious doosra, are cleared.
(This article has been corrected for a factual error)