5 spinners whose careers got affected due to suspect bowling action

#2 Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan)

Pakistan national selectors have been ignoring him because of his illegal action

Ajmal’s action always raised several doubts, especially when he bowled the doosra. He was the backbone of the Pakistan side and was one of the prime reasons for their overseas success.

He was reported while bowling against Sri Lanka in August 2014 and in what was a big blow to Pakistan cricket, he was banned the following month. Shortly after being reported, it was found that he illegally straightened his arm by more than 15 degrees in all of his deliveries, which was not permissible.

Spin great Saqlain Mushtaq worked on his action and he was cleared just a week before the World Cup 2015. However, it was too late and he couldn’t participate in the quadrennial event. He returned to international cricket in April 2015, but has not been able to replicated his old magic which got him over 440 wickets.

Ajmal and ICC have recently got into a spat. Left frustrated that his international career was derailing and he wasn’t being picked in the team, the 38-year old lashed out at the ICC. He said that the world body's rules on the issue make no sense and will kill the art of off-spin bowling or doosra.