Pakistan's embattled all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez underwent rigorous testing on his bowling action at the International Cricket Council-accredited Sri Ramachandra Sports Medicine centre in Chennai India on Monday.
Hafeez was reported for a suspect bowling action for a second time after Pakistan's dominating 10-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the first Test at the end of June.
The 34-year-old's action was first reported in November last year after the first Test match against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi, with the all-rounder failing to pass two unofficial bio-mechanics tests after that.
“Unlike other international bowlers like Sunil Naraine and the rest, Hafeez is more of an orthodox offspinner and there are not many variations in his bowling methods. He does not have a doosra. But it took some long time in the processes of testing Hafeez today,” the official said.According to ICC rules, since this is the second time he has been reported in a year, if his action is found illegal, the offspinner could face a one-year bowling ban. An official of the biomechanics lab in Chennai, quoted by Times of India, sounded the alarm bells for Hafeez, saying it was ‘extremely difficult’ for a bowler to remodel his action completely.
“We will be finding whether he has bowled in the same intensity with same action, same revolution and same speed while we screen and analyse the clippings. We will be measuring all those critical clippings before we send our report to the ICC and Pakistan cricket board,” he added.
Hafeez, who made his international debut in 2003, has claimed 51 wickets in 43 Tests, 123 wickets in 161 one-dayers and 46 wickets in 62 Twenty20 matches.
COMMENTS