Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan’s off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect after the International Cricket Council (ICC) found his action to be illegal, the sport’s governing body said on Thursday. Hafeez, currently the world’s top-ranked ODI all-rounder, was reported during the third one-day international against Sri Lanka, which was played on October 18 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and had undergone an independent assessment of his bowling action on November 1 at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. The assessment revealed that the majority of his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations.

“In accordance with Article 11.1 of the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations, Hafeez’s international suspension will also be recognised and enforced by all National Cricket Federations for domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdiction. However, pursuant to Article 11.5 of the Regulations and with the consent of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Hafeez may be able to bowl in domestic cricket events played under the auspices of the PCB,” said a media release of the ICC. Hafeez can apply for a re-assessment after modifying his bowling action in accordance with clause 4.5 of the Regulations.

Following ICC’s decision, Hafeez expressed his disappointment but aimed to work hard to regain his position. “Saddened to know the result of my bowling action from ICC, (but) it would never pull me down, (I) will never give up,” Hafeez posted on his twitter. The 37-year-old has represented Pakistan in 50 Tests, 195 ODIs and 81 T20Is. The decision will be of little consolation to Pakistan, for whom the availability of Hafeez’s bowling this year has been a major factor in their resurgence in white-ball cricket. They have risen to the top of the T20 rankings and won the Champions Trophy in June in some part because Hafeez was back bowling – his availability offered Pakistan not only control at one end, but the flexibility to choose a number of attack-minded, wicket-taking options.

Hafeez has been suspended on two previous occasions for the same offence and served a ban after his action was found to be illegal for the second time in a two-year period. Hafeez’s action was first reported in November 2014, during a Test series against New Zealand and suspended from bowling in December. By April 2015, he had remodelled his action enough to satisfy another test and he was cleared to bowl again. Just a couple of months later, however, he was reported again during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka. Tests confirmed again that his action was illegal, and because his action had been found illegal twice within a period of 24 months, he was automatically suspended from bowling for 12 months. The latest episode leaves Hafeez to ponder over the future of his bowling once again. Under ICC rules, though this is the third time he has been suspended from bowling in three years, he will be able to return to bowling as soon as he has rectified his action and passed another assessment. One thing in Pakistan’s and Hafeez’s favour is a relatively light international schedule. It will be difficult for Hafeez to start bowling again in time for Pakistan’s next assignment, a limited overs series in New Zealand in January. There is the possibility of a T20 series against West Indies in Pakistan in March, but otherwise they are not scheduled to play any international cricket until the tour to England in May. In the interim will be the PSL where, according to ICC regulations, he can bowl should the PCB choose to allow it.

Hafeez withdraws from BPL following suspension

Meanwhile, Hafeez has withdrawn himself from the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League after being suspended. Hafeez confirmed to media yesterday that he had decided against going to Dhaka and joining his BPL team Comilla Victorians for the remainder of the league. “I will stay here and work on my bowling action,” he said. Hafeez was earlier scheduled to leave for Dhaka on Friday to join the team Comilla Victorians for the remainder of BPL matches. He was picked by the team as a genuine all-rounder but the ICC’s decision meant that he wouldn’t have been able to contribute with the ball. The bowler has now requested the PCB to assign a coach to work with him to remodel his bowling action so that he can apply for a reassessment as soon as possible.

Published in Daily Times, November 17^th 2017.