Mohammad Hafeez cleared to bowl once more in International Cricket

Mohammad Hafeez cleared to bowl once more in International Cricket  © Getty Images (File Photo)

London: ICC (International Cricket Council) on Tuesday announced that following remedial work and re-assessment, Mohammad Hafeez's bowling action has been found to be legal, and the all-rounder can now resume bowling in international cricket.

Mohammad Hafeez (on April 17) underwent a re-assessment of his bowling action at the Loughborough University where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension in his bowling action was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations.

It will come as a major boost to Pakistan, who had relied heavily on Hafeez's all-round game in the months leading up to his action being found illegal, rising to the top of the T20I rankings, and winning the Champions Trophy in June last year.

Hafeez's bowling was crucial in allowing Pakistan to field attacking bowling line-ups with more wicket-taking options without compromising on their batting depth.

Hafeez had enlisted the services of spin bowling consultant Carl Crowe, who also worked with West Indies spinner Sunil Narine on his action. He had also helped Hafeez overturn a one-year ban the second time he was reported. Hafeez also worked with biomechanics specialist Dr Paul Herron in England in December. He failed an unofficial test at a laboratory at LUMS university in Lahore days before the start of the Pakistan Super League - albeit very narrowly. But he did not bowl during the PSL.
ICC said in the press release, match 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. To assist the match officials, they will be provided with images and video footage of the bowler’s remodeled legal bowling action.

After the happy news, Mohammad Hafeez tweeted he was happy to be allowed to bowl again and made a special mention of the NCA staff, thanking them for remedying his action.

Mohammad Hafeez was suspended from bowling first time in December 2014 after being reported in November 2014 during a Test series. Following remedial work on his bowling action, he was re-assessed and permitted to resume bowling in April 2015.

All-rounder was then suspended from bowling in July 2015 for 12 months following a second suspension within 24 months. He was re-assessed and permitted to resume bowling in November 2016.

Third time, Hafeez was reported during Abu Dhabi ODI against Sri Lanka in October 2017, and was subsequently suspended in November 2017 after an independent assessment revealed he had employed an illegal bowling action.

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.