Saqlain Mushtaq to be paid Rs 1 million per month by PCB for helping Saeed Ajmal with his action

FILE PHOTO: Saqlain Mushtaq will be paid Rs. 1 million per month to coach Saeed Ajmal

Former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will be paid a colossal Rs one million per month by the Pakistan Cricket Board after agreeing to assist the suspended Saeed Ajmal in undergoing remedial work on his bowling action.

Ajmal had been suspended from bowling in international cricket earlier this month after biomechanic tests conducted in Brisbane, Australia, revealed that he was flexing his elbow well beyond the permissible 15 degrees limit while bowling.

"Besides the one million rupees fees, the PCB will bear all expenses on the biomechanic tests Saeed will undergo further while Saqlain will also be provided accommodation and other perks," a source told PTI.

Saqlain, who took 208 wickets from 49 Tests, was a distinguished spinner in his time whose bowling action was never under suspicion despite being the man to invent the much-dubious doosra. The PCB will be hoping that Saqlain’s help can do the trick as Ajmal aims to make a comeback for Pakistan before the all-important ICC World Cup in 6 months’ time.

Ajmal, who was scheduled to play for the Faisalabad Wolves in the domestic championship being held in Karachi from September 17, has backed out of the competition in order to focus on correcting his action to such an extent that he can resume bowling in international cricket once again.

"He was advised by the cricket board to not play in domestic cricket and instead work on his action with former Pakistan spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq who reaches Lahore on September 21st," a PCB source told PTI.

"Since the championship will continue until September 27 the board felt that Saeed should focus on working with Saqlain who has been specially hired to remodel the spinner's action," he added.