PCB backs Mohammad Hafeez to rectify his action

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday in a press release rejected claims that it is not backing the all-rounder, Mohammad Hafeez following the bowling imposed by the ICC. The International Cricket Council (ICC), announced that the all-rounder’s action for all the tested deliveries was deemed illegal, following which the bowler was banned until he remodels his action to follow the guidelines and clears a test.

Media reports from Pakistan earlier suggested that the all-rounder was asked to refer to the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Lahore to receive supervision to correct his illegal bowling action. The sources further confirmed that PCB had not hired a third-party expert to help Hafeez rectify his action.

Further, it was also stated by the Tribune (Pakistan) that the board is ready to request ICC to have a recheck on the bowling action of the all-rounder, before giving out the verdict. It would only be done after the 37-year-old is confident of his modified action.

“PCB would like to clarify that it stands behind Hafeez and is lending all its support to him to rectify his bowling action,” the media release read.

The Review committee

“The PCB will like to state that a bowling action review committee has already been setup with Ahsan Raza, Ali Zia, Saleem Jaffar, and Sajjad Akbar as its members. The committee has been tasked to provide all possible training and assistance to rectify Hafeez’s bowling action at par with the ICC standards,” it further stated.

An unofficial test would also be conducted before Hafeez is ready to go with the request for the ICC. The offie will be practising his actions, and once in every ten days would have to undergo a test at the biomechanics lab setup in Lahore University of Management Sciences.

The incident that got him the ban was from the third ODI against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates, where he was reported for suspected bowling action by the on-field officials. Further, test reports showed that he had a bend of 20-22 degrees in his elbow. Till the official announcement, the all-rounder is allowed to bowl in the domestic tournament, only after the permission from the cricketing board.