PCB sends notice to Saeed Ajmal for ICC comment, Harbhajan might take legal action

Saeed Ajmal thinks Pakistani players are been targeted to destabilise Pakistan cricket

Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is facing trouble for criticising International Cricket Council’s (ICC) actions against bowlers who violate norms.

After a test conducted by ICC in 2014, Ajmal was asked to re-model his bowling action. The 38-year-old spinner has accused ICC of taking strict action only against specific kind of bowlers. In an interview with Geo Super, he said, "Why just target the off-spinners? Why not the left-arm spinners, leg spinners or fast bowlers?”

In February, the spinner cleared tests to come back to professional cricket. However, his re-modelled action still had traces of his previous one. Since April, he has not played international cricket, which led him to miss the Pakistan vs England series in UAE.

The 38-year-old feels players of certain countries, especially Pakistan, are being targeted. “Just before the World Cup they ruled me and Hafeez out. I find it strange that Bilal Asif plays his first two ODIs and doesn’t take many wickets, so no one reports his action. As soon as he takes five wickets, his action is reported by the umpires. They find fault with just two deliveries. I find this a joke,” said Ajmal.

Ajmal has questioned Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh’s bowling action. "If they put Harbhajan Singh through a proper bowling assessment test now, I can safely tell you he will exceed the 15 degrees limit," he said. In the past, Bhajji was asked to re-model his bowling action and ICC’s chief executive David Richardson was satisfied with the way Singh worked on his actions.

From his experience of going through the assessment process a number of times, Ajmal said, “I have watched and studied this issue so closely that I can vouch that if tests were carried out, there would be many other bowlers whose bowling actions would exceed the 15 degrees extension limit.” He added that even fast bowlers violate rules but no action is taken against them.

However, an ICC spokesperson has denied any such partiality. He told ESPNcricinfo, “We have a robust and transparent process to test bowlers. It is consistent to all countries and all types of bowlers. Indeed, a fast bowler has been reported and players from various nations have been reported.”

ICC has five accredited testing centres worldwide where members of ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists conduct tests using the ICC Standard Analysis Protocols. The spokesperson claimed that the protocols are same for anyone who undergoes a test.

Pakistan Cricket Board has issued Ajmal a show notice. Legal actions can also be taken from Harbhajan Singh’s side.