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Business News/ Industry / Media/  Saeed Ajmal hit by ICC doosra
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Saeed Ajmal hit by ICC doosra

PCB chief says the ban on Ajmal is a big blow to Pakistan cricket and it will appeal against the decision

Ajmal says the ban is not a problem for him right now. Photo: AFPPremium
Ajmal says the ban is not a problem for him right now. Photo: AFP

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday suspended Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal from bowling in international cricket after his action was deemed “illegal". Ajmal, who was reported during the first of Pakistan’s recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, was sent to Brisbane for an independent analysis of his action using biomechanic tests. In a statement, the ICC said, “The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations."

Reacting to the ban, Ajmal told Reuters, “The ban is not a problem for me right now. The ICC has stopped me from bowling because my elbow is bending beyond the 15 degrees allowed by the ICC and I know I can correct that." He added, “It is disappointing to know the results of the tests, but I am a fighter and I know what I have to do to get back to international cricket before the World Cup."

Remaining confident about his chances of making it to Pakistan’s playing squad for the World Cup, Ajmal said, “Playing in the World Cup and doing well for Pakistan is a dream for me and I am not going to give up on that."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to appeal Ajmal’s ban. PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan was cited as saying by the PTI, “The ban on Ajmal is a big blow to Pakistan cricket and we will appeal against the decision." Former Pakistan wicket-keeper and current team manager, Moin Khan added, “We don’t know the exact details but Saeed has the option of also working on his action and taking fresh tests when he is ready." The appeal, according to ICC’s regulations, must be filed within 14 days of the announcement of the ban, and will be heard by the Bowling Review Group (BRG).

Ajmal’s action was previously reported in 2009 for bowling the doosra in a one-day international (ODI) series against Australia. He was subsequently cleared after tests and allowed to bowl the delivery again. His suspension follows a trend, with off-spinners being reported for suspect bowling action recently. Currently, three other players—Prosper Utseya (Zimbabwe), Sachitra Senanayake (Sri Lanka) and Kane Williamson (New Zealand)—are being investigated by the ICC for their bowling actions.

What’s the fuss about the doosra?

But what prompts a bowler, especially a finger off-spinner, to bowl with a suspect action, or to use the cricketing parlance, “chuck"? Fairly simple: The off-spinner’s primary weapon is the delivery, which upon pitching, comes into the right hander. The doosra, a delivery popularized by former Pakistani off-spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq in the mid-1990s, is an important tactical, and skill variation for the offie, with the ball going the other way (away from the batsman) upon pitching. The doosra, most often than not is bowled with the same action as the off-spinner, with Muttiah Muralitharan’s rubbery wrists being an exception. The ball is delivered with a slight flick of the wrist, slightest if you like, with the the back of the bowling hand, facing the batsman, thus forcing the bowler to bend his arm while bowling the delivery.

No other delivery in modern cricket has managed to split the cricketing world, the way the doosra has—pitting traditionalists against open advocates of unorthodoxy and innovation in the sport. The doosra, which has been used by Asian spinners like Saqlain, Muralitharan, Harbhajan Singh and Saeed Ajmal with a phenomenal success-rate, has often been the scourge of cricketing nations like Australia and England, who have constantly questioned the legitimacy of the delivery at various times.

What next for Ajmal?

While the bowling ban applies only to international cricket, Ajmal can play in domestic tournaments “with the consent of his Home Board" (in this case, the PCB). Ajmal must now remodel his bowling action and apply to the ICC for a reassessment. If Ajmal’s appeal before the BRG is not successful, he will be banned for a year, in which case, he’s certain to miss the 2015 World Cup in Australia-New Zealand.

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Published: 09 Sep 2014, 05:44 PM IST
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