DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday cleared Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez to return to bowling at international level after remodelling his action.
The 37-year-old was reported for a suspect bowling action during a one-day international against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi last October, with an assessment finding it illegal for the third time in his career.
He underwent remodelling of his action and had a re-assessment of his bowling action last month.
"The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that following remedial work and re-assessment, the bowling action of Pakistan's Hafeez has been found to be legal, and the off-spinner can now resume bowling in international cricket," said an ICC statement.
On April 17, Hafeez underwent a re-assessment of his bowling action at Loughborough University, England where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension in his bowling action was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted.
Officials are still at liberty to report Hafeez in the future if they believe he is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action from the reassessment, the ICC added.
Hafeez was first suspended from bowling in December 2014 after being reported during a Test series in the UAE.
Following remedial work on his bowling action he was re-assessed and permitted to resume bowling in April 2015.
He was then suspended from bowling in July 2015 for 12 months.
Hafeez was able to resume bowling again in November 2016 before he was reported for a third time.
Hafeez is not part of Pakistan's Test squad currently touring Ireland and England.
Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur last month said Hafeez needed to clear his action.
"The doors are not closed for Hafeez at all. If Hafeez is bowling, he becomes a very good option for us. If he doesn't bowl, it becomes a problem," Arthur said.
Hafeez was also dropped from Pakistan's Twenty20 series in New Zealand in January and a home series against the West Indies last month.
Meanwhile, West Indies fast bowler Ronsford Beaton failed an independent assessment and is suspended from bowling in international cricket, the ICC said.
Beaton made his international debut last December, playing two ODIs in New Zealand.
Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez cleared to bowl after remodelling action
Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez cleared to bowl after remodelling action
- Was first suspended from bowling in December 2014
- His remodelled action has now passed an ICC assessment
Pakistan cricketers arrive in Sri Lanka to take part in T20 series ahead of World Cup
- All-rounders Shadab Khan, Rana Faheem Ashraf and pacers Mohammad Wasim and Salman Mirza arrived in Colombo
- Pakistan are set to play three-match series from Jan. 7-11 ahead of T20I World Cup scheduled to begin from Feb. 7
ISLAMABAD: The first batch of Pakistani cricketers have arrived in Sri Lanka to take part in a three-match T20I series scheduled to be played later this week, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Monday as the Green Shirts prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
According to the cricket board, Pakistani all-rounders Shadab Khan and Rana Faheem Ashraf as well as pacers Mohammad Wasim and Salman Mirza arrived in Colombo on Sunday night.
Pakistan Head Coach Mike Hesson, Bowling Coach Ashley Noffke, the fielding coach and other members of the support staff have also arrived in Colombo.
“The remaining players of the national squad and other support staff members will depart from Lahore for Colombo on the afternoon of Jan. 5,” the PCB said in a statement.
Pakistan last week announced its 15-member squad for the Sri Lanka series, with Salman Ali Agha retained as captain to lead the side. Khan was recalled to the squad after recovering from a shoulder injury while uncapped batter Khawaja Nafay has also been selected in the team.
Pakistani star cricketers Haris Rauf, Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are not part of the squad. All three were playing for the Big Bash League, with Afridi returning mid-season after suffering an injury.
All three T20Is are scheduled to be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium (RDICS) in Dambulla on Jan. 7, 9 and 11.
“The series will provide Pakistan an opportunity to finalize their squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March,” the PCB said last week.
SQUAD:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq
