LAHORE: The Pakistan team management is yet to review the video clips of objectionable deliveries of ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, for which he was reported for a suspect bowling action by International Cricket Council (ICC) match officials after the first Test of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Field umpires Ian Gould and Bruce Oxenford and third umpire Richard Illingworth along with match referee Andy Pycroft in their reports cited concerns over a number of Ajmal deliveries that were considered to be suspect, and concluded that the spinner’s action needed to be tested.

Well-informed sources told Dawn that manager Moin Khan has received the video clips of Ajmal’s suspect bowling action, but he is yet to sit with head coach Waqar Younis and spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed to start the review work.

Ajmal was also reported for a suspect bowling action in 2009 but was later cleared to continue his impressive international career during which he has so far claimed 174 wickets at the average of 27.79, 182 wickets in 110 ODIs at 22.24 besides claiming 85 scalps in 63 T20 Internationals at 17.54.

The bowler, according to sources, has some problem with the deliveries when he bowls over the wicket, and that too when he feels fatigue due to long spells.

Sources further said that it would not be easy for the PCB to save Ajmal from any potential penalty that might be imposed by the ICC.

More importantly, the strategy of the PCB for the 2015 World Cup will face a huge setback if Ajmal faces any step that may hinder his progress in international contests due to the action issue, since the wily bowler is one of Pakistan’s trump cards in all three formats.

“Almost 40 per cent strength of Pakistan’s bowling rests with Ajmal and presently there is no reliable off-spinner who can fill the gap if he faces any penalty [due to his allegedly doubtful bowling action],” sources said.

Surprisingly, sources said, the PCB did not have any sitting with previous national team bowling coach Mohammad Akram over this issue — to inquire from him what he had done to improve Ajmal’s bowling action during his two-year tenure.

Sources further said the PCB had no programme to complain against field umpire Ian Gould despite the fact it had expressed concern over his umpiring when he supervised 2008 Asia Cup matches in Karachi.

“The PCB had raised its voice against Gould in the Asia Cup but now it has no plan to again raise this issue before the ICC,” sources confided.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2014