Hafeez reported for suspect bowling action: ICC

KARACHI: Pakistan’s off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez has been reported for a suspect bowling action during the third One-Day International against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, the ICC announced on Thursday.

According to the spokesman of ICC, the match officials’ report, which was handed over to the Pakistan team management, cited concerns about the legality of the 37-year-old’s bowling action.

“Hafeez’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations. He is required to undergo testing within 14 days, and, during this period, Hafeez is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the assessments are known,” said ICC.

Hafeez was first suspended from bowling in December 2014.

He was allowed to resume bowling in April 2015 after an independent reassessment of his bowling tests found his action to be legal.

He was suspended for a second time after an independent assessment revealed that he had employed an illegal bowling action after being reported in the Galle Test v Pakistan in June 2015.

This was his second suspension within 24 months of the initial suspension in December 2014, he was suspended from bowling in international cricket for 12 months from July 2015.

On November 17, 2016, the bowler underwent a reassessment of his action at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane and was allowed to resume bowling after his action was found to be legal.

This current report on his action, according to ICC, will be considered to be the first report and the procedure outlined in clause 4.1 of the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations shall now apply.

Hafeez, 37, got one wicket conceding 39 runs in 8 overs on Wednesday. He has taken 136 wickets in 193 ODIs.