Hafeez eyes Pakistan return as bowling action cleared

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GEO NEWS
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KARACHI: Pakistan cricketer and former T20i captain Mohammad Hafeez on Friday expressed hope to play as an all-rounder for the green shirts once again after International Cricket Council (ICC) allowed him to ball in international cricket.

"Following remedial work and reassessment, the bowling action of Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez has been found to be legal, and the player can now resume bowling in international cricket," the ICC announced on Wednesday.

Hafeez was first suspended from bowling in November 2014, but he was reassessed and permitted to resume bowling in April 2015. He was reported again during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in June 2015 and was suspended for 12 months in July 2015 after an independent assessment revealed he had employed an illegal bowling action for the second time in 24 months.

Hafeez underwent a reassessment of his bowling action on November 17th at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his off-spin deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted by the ICC.

Talking to the media in Karachi on Friday, he expressed his pleasure over the ICC’s decision, saying that it was now up to the national selectors to pick him.

He hoped to represent Pakistan once again as an all-rounder, adding that he was basically an off-spinner and was working hard on his bowling as well.

Hafeez, who was cricket’s top all-rounder at the time of his 12-month ban, said that no Pakistan all-rounder has ever topped the ICC ranking.

He thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) cooperation for getting his bowling action cleared by ICC, adding that he would start bowling in domestic cricket from tomorrow.

Talking about Pakistan’s squad for the tour of Australia, he said that a good side was selected for the tour and we all should support it.