KARACHI: Top-ranked Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was on Tuesday suspended indefinitely from international cricket for an illegal bowling action but vowed to return in time for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned the 36-year-old after biomechanic tests revealed all his deliveries breached the permissible limit for straightening of the elbow joint.

The world’s leading One-day International bowler blamed the ICC ruling on his “not usual” right elbow and said he would appeal.

Speaking to reporters in his home city of Faisalabad shortly after the announcement, he shrugged off the ICC announcement as “not an issue”.

But the ban could cause serious problems for Pakistan, firstly in their upcoming series with Australia and also in the World Cup, which they won in 1992.

It comes as part of an ICC crackdown on illegal bowling actions — where the arm is bent more than 15 degrees — in international cricket.

“I am still positive, and can make it to the World Cup. They [ICC] have not yet considered my medical reports, and once they do it I am sure there should be no problems,” said Ajmal, who was cleared on medical grounds when his action was first reported in 2009.

“My elbow is not usual, so that’s why it seems that I bend it more than normal 15 degree allowed and if someone has a medical problem he can’t do much about it.

“It is very disappointing to know the results of the tests but I am a fighter and I know what I have to do to get back into international cricket.

“We will go into appeal soon... I will be in action in the World Cup next year, that’s my resolve,” he added.

Ajmal, who turns 37 next month, said he was also open to approaching former players to help him correct his action. “Playing in the World Cup and doing well for Pakistan is a dream for me and I am not going to give up on that,” said Ajmal.

Ajmal has about five months to correct his action and appeal for a reassessment in order to play in the World Cup.

The ICC said Ajmal had been suspended with immediate effect following tests by an ICC-accredited team of human movement specialists at Australia’s National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

Ajmal was reported for a suspect action after last month’s first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

According to ICC regulations, a suspended bowler can continue to play in domestic cricket under the supervision of the home board, and can apply for a reassessment after he modifies his action.

“The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations,” the ICC said in a statement.

Ajmal is Pakistan’s key bowler, with 178 wickets in 35 Tests and 183 in 111 ODIs. He is also the leading wicket-taker in all Twenty20 matches with 85 in 63 matches.

He will require to undergo remedial work on his bowling action at Perth’s University of Western Australia, where human movement expert Daryl Foster will work on his action.

The ICC said Ajmal can be tested again once the remedial work report is satisfactory. Even if he is cleared, he faces a ban of 12 months if he is reported again within two years.

Under the ICC rules a suspended bowler can appeal within 15 days but can risk a ban of six to 12 months in case the appeal is turned down.

“It’s unfortunate and the timing is sad,” said head coach Waqar Younis. “Ajmal is mentally very strong and I am sure he will come back after correcting his action.”

Chief selector Moin Khan also hopes Ajmal will quickly get his action cleared but was also working on a back-up plan.

“We have time before the World Cup, so Saeed can sort out his bowling action issues but we have also already called up two or three promising spinners to the National Cricket Academy to have a look at them,” he said.

“We need to find a replacement for Saeed until he is cleared to bowl again because we have a tough series against Australia coming up.”

Starting next month, Pakistan play one Twenty20 International, three ODIs and two Tests against Australia in the United Arab Emirates.

“Saeed is a strong character and I am sure he will work hard to be ready for the World Cup,” Moin said.

After Ajmal was reported last month, PCB set up a committee of bowling experts to identify and work on bowlers in domestic cricket with suspect bowling actions.

Ajmal became the seventh Pakistani to be reported for a suspect action, joining Shabbir Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Riaz Afridi and Shoaib Malik.

Ajmal was previously reported for his ‘doosra’, an off-spinner’s stock delivery which turns away from the batsman, in 2009 during a one-day series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates and cleared all the tests.

In 2012, after taking 24 wickets as Pakistan thrashed England 3-0, Ajmal caused uproar by saying the ICC had given his action special dispensation — a claim denied by the world governing body.

In May, England fast bowler Stuart Broad questioned Ajmal’s bowling action, and said the offspinner used different actions on the field and during testing.

Pakistan have summoned off-spinner Atif Maqbool, a prolific wicket-taker at domestic level, as a replacement for Ajmal.

Published in Dawn, September 10th , 2014