The Pakistani cricket team's tale of suffering started 15 years ago.

That's when Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Australia in the World Cup 1999 final.

Four years later, Pakistan entered the World Cup 2003 with the hope of mitigating some of that suffering.

But instead, they were thrashed left and right by South Africa, Australia and India. Following a rain-affected game against Zimbabwe, any lingering hopes of progressing beyond the first stage of the tournament were left shattered.

Bruised and battered, the beleaguered greens now had to wait four more years before getting another shot at redemption. Following the 2003 disaster, several Pakistani stalwarts said goodbyes to their careers. These included the legendary Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. The pace attack now depended solely on Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

In terms of everything they could deliver, the Akhtar-Asif duo was no less menacing than that of McGrath and Lee. But as fate had it, both star pacemen were captured in a drug scandal merely a few months before the 2007 World Cup. Pakistan Cricket Board imposed a ban on both players, and despite innumerable counter efforts and appeals, the two players could not make it to the national squad for 2007.

Also read: Imran describes doping bans as harsh

Pakistan walked in with a second-rate bowling attack and suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands none other than Ireland. Once again, the greens were kicked out in the first stage of the tournament. Sadly, the defeat took toll on coach Bob Woolmer, who suffered a stroke soon after and passed away.

Then 2011 came. After the last two disastrous campaigns, Pakistan had hoped at first that this time around, the home crowds and familiar grounds would provide the boon they had so long been looking for.

Indian team celebrates after beating Pakistan during in the World Cup 2011 semi-final in Mohali. — AFP photo

But alas! The first shock came in 2009, when a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team snatched away Pakistan's hosting rights from it.

Then in 2011, a spot-fixing scandal during the England tour once again stole its two best bowlers — Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir — from the squad.

Once again, lengthy bans were imposed. Once again, Pakistan entered the world arena with a much subdued, if not maimed and mutilated, fleet of bowlers. Thanks to sub-continental pitches, spinners did well and the team made it to the semi-finals. But they didn't have it in them to go the last mile.

The reason? Bowlers.

Read on: Aamir, Asif’s presence would have done wonders, says Shoaib

Now, World Cup 2015 is just around the corner. It is the same venue where the tigers roared to world domination 22 years ago. But guess what?

Once again, Pakistan's ace bowler has been taken away from them.

Saeed Ajmal is currently the number one ODI bowler in the world. He has been among leading wicket-takers in ODIs, Tests as well as T20s for three years now. But a few months before the big tournament, the ICC has declared his bowling action illegal and suspended him from bowling.

The surprising thing here is that it isn't just the 'doosra' — every single one of Ajmal's deliveries has been termed illegal.

The decision has kept alive the tradition of Pakistan playing the World Cup without its best bowler.

Appealing against the Saeed Ajmal decision will be a huge gamble. — Photo by AFP

The ban has also put a question mark on a stellar career based on 111 matches and 183 wickets at an average of 22.18.

If PCB decides to appeal against the decision, it will be a huge gamble because a rejection could result in an extended ban on the spinner, most likely ending his career.

Explore: Will this be the end of Ajmal?

The biggest question, however, is that even if Ajmal survives this setback, will he be able to perform like before? Will he be able to reverse the atrophy in his recent performances?

The way Ajmal roared back after the semifinal of T20 World Cup 2010 shows he isn't one to let setbacks get to him easily. But if his action doesn't get cleared, then it is safe to say that the five to ten per cent chances of Pakistan winning the World Cup will go all the way down to zero.

We would be marching into the stadium with a toothless lion for a bowling attack.

With bans on other spinners like Shane Shilllingford, Kane Williamson and Sachitra Senanayake, the ICC has made an emphatic statement that it will not tolerate bowlers who use the 'doosra'.

Let the rest of the spinners be warned. They might be next in line.

Related articles:
- PCB refers Ajmal’s case to local bowling committee
- Atif, Adnan likely to be Pakistan’s best bet against Aussies in Ajmal’s absence
- Changing action won’t be easy for Ajmal, says Qadir

Translated by Talha Ahmed from the original in Urdu