Lahore: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez can now bowl in domestic competitions despite being banned from bowling at the international level for an illegal action.
Hafeez was handed a 12-month ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in July but will bowl for the Lahore Whites in the country’s Twenty20 competition. Despite the international ban, it is legal for Hafeez to bowl in domestic cricket with permission, which has been granted. “A bowler suspended in international cricket can bowl in domestic cricket with the permission of his home board,” an ICC official was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Tuesday.
“The logic behind this provision is to allow the home board and the player concerned the opportunity to monitor improvement in his bowling action in a match situation, and when happy, apply for reassessment.” Hafeez was first reported for a suspect bowling action in November last year after Pakistan’s first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. He was suspended from bowling in December after tests at the Loughborough University in Leicestershire, England, but was then given a green signal in April after re-testing at Chennai’s Sri Ramachandra University.
However, he was again reported after Pakistan’s Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in June and returned to the Chennai facility, where testing revealed his elbow extension was beyond the 15-degee limit, which led to the 12-month ban. Hafeez can not apply for another reassessment of his action before his 12-month ban is served, but can continue to bowl in domestic competitions with permission. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s permission means the 34-year-old, who is still No.2 in the ICC’s official ranking of T20 allrounders, will also be eligible to play in the Pakistan Super League next February in Doha.
