The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday declared the bowling action of Mohamad Hafeez illegal. All-rounderHafeez has been reported with a suspected illegal bowling action during the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi early in November.

In a statement posted to the cricket regulatory body's website, the ICC confirmed that Hafeez's action is illegal and he has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.

The statement read, "The International Cricket Council today confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez to be illegal."

"The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations."

It added that Hafeez, who was reported after the first Test match against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last month, can apply for 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 24 November by the ICC’s accredited team of Human Movement Specialists using the National Cricket Performance Centre, Loughborough.

Hafeez is the second Pakistani behind Saeed Ajmal, also an off-spinner, to be reported in a major crackdown on bowlers with suspect actions the ICC launched in June this year.

Both Hafeez and Ajmal were included in Pakistan's preliminary squad for the upcoming World Cup.The latest setback weakens Pakistan's spin attack which was already jolted by Saeed Ajmal's suspension.

The ICC World Cup commences in Australia and New Zealand on February 14, with Pakistan facing arch-rival India in their first Group B game a day later at Adelaide.

Greenshirts' captain Misbah-ul-Haq had said “Ajmal has been our trump card for the last five six years and his suspension is a big jolt for us.”

Hafeez’s action was also reported during a Twenty20 league in India in September this year, but the PCB said the bowler did some remedial work in the national cricket academy in Lahore.

He was not reported during the 2-0 win over Australia which finished last month.

Hafeez’s action was cleared after being reported in a one-day match against the West Indies in Brisbane in 2005.

Before the Australia series Hafeez said he has been bowling with the same action for 11 years.