Mohammad Hafeez Cleared To Bowl

[Umair Malik]

Mohammad Hafeez, the Pakistan allrounder, can resume bowling in international cricket after his action was found to be legal.

Hafeez, an offspinner, had been suspended from bowling for 12 months in July 2015 after he was reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, the second time within 24 months he had been reported. Although he was eligible for a re-test during the tour of England a knee injury had hampered his chances to prepare so it was delayed.

He spent over a month undergoing rehabilitation before deciding to take the official ICC assessment. Beforehand he underwent informal testing in PCB's biomechanics lab at LUMS University in Lahore to make sure his flex was within allowable 15-degree limit.

On November 17, Hafeez underwent the reassessment at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his offspin deliveries was within the level of tolerance.

Hafeez has always believed that his bowling is an integral part to what he can bring to a team, although the Pakistan selectors have continued to consider him a batsman first with the offspin as a useful addition.

He was dropped after the third Test against England, at Edgbaston, and has not featured in the recent series against West Indies and New Zealand. He is not part of the Test squad for Australia but now that his bowling has been cleared he could come into contention for the limited-overs leg in January.

The umpires are still able to report Hafeez if they believe he is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action from the reassessment. To assist the umpires, they will be provided with images and video footage of the bowler's remodelled legal bowling action.