Saeed Ajmal faces one year ban for Illegal bowling action

Pakistan’s leading spinner and key bowler Saeed Ajmal has been banned from international cricket for a year with immediate effect. The bowler was suspected for illegal bowling action during the series against Sri Lanka. The umpires for the series reported this to the match referee and to the ICC there on. Ajmal was asked to appear for action analysis the report for which proves that his bowling action is not fully legal for which he has been banned.
The analysis and testing was done at the Cricket Australia’s hi-tech National Cricket Centre in Brisbane two weeks ago. The ICC officials in their released statement stated, “The International Cricket Council today confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal to be illegal and, as such, the player has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.
“The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations.

“Saeed, who was reported after the first Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle last month, can apply a re-assessment after he has modified his bowling action in accordance with clause 2.4 of the Regulations for the Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions.
“The analysis was performed on 25 August by the ICC’s accredited team of Human Movement Specialists using the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.”

Ajmal the no. 1 ranked ODI bowler is now ruled out of the matches versus Australia to be played at the UAE. If Ajmal has to make a comeback he needs to apply for re-assessment with a modified action. This is the only way out and possibility for his return; otherwise he is set to be out of cricketing action for a year.
The bowler is 37 now and will be a year older, form and age factor might go against him, as he was expected to be Pakistan’s best bet heading into the World Cup 2015. As Ajmal has incredible records with 183 wickets in 111 ODI’s and the 35 tests that he has played has taken 178 wickets and is the 9^th ranked test bowler in ICC rankings. Ajmal also has 85 wickets to his name in 63 T20I for Pakistan.

A huge blow this will be to Pakistan cricket, and a lesson for bowlers who try a little too much in the name of variation. Cricket is a game of technique and spirit one needs to play inside the borders and rules of the game.