Ajmal clears test, still unsure about WC
Suspended Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has claimed that he cleared a private test on his bowling action in Egdbaston, England, but it seems it has come to late for him to be playing at the World Cup.
Ajmal was suspended from bowling in September last year and, at first, he was desperate to remodel and be cleared to bowl in time for the World Cup, which starts in Australia and New Zealand on the 14 February.
The 37 year-old withdrew from the showpiece event last month, as he could not remodel his action sufficiently to keep his arm bent below the legal 15 degree limit.
Ajmal is now confident of passing the ICC's official tests after the private testing in England, but he himself is sure about playing at the World Cup.
He said: "I cleared the private test. The tests were conducted in Edgbaston and all my deliveries including the 'doosra' (his trademark swing) were within 15 degrees.
"Look, I want to be as confident in my bowling as I was before (suspension) and want to be effective, so (whether) I can still play the World Cup or cannot play, remains to be seen.
"I want to do what is best for my country and for my team."
Ajmal was not included in Pakistan's final 15-man World Cup squad but all the teams playing at the tournament can still make changes to their squad before the seventh of February.
Latest
-
Caribbean Premier LeagueThe 6ixty – Chris Gayle ambassador for new white-ball format in the Caribbean
The tournament has branded itself as “Cricket’s Power Game”.
-
EnglandJos Buttler gives his backing to Eoin Morgan amid England captain’s poor form
The stand-in led the side to victory over the Netherlands as the regular skipper missed the game with a groin issue.
-
EnglandBen Stokes stresses England players have ‘a responsibility on and off field’
The Headingley Test, which at one point looked in danger due to racism allegations at Yorkshire, gets under way on Thursday.
-
EnglandBen Stokes excited to unleash Jamie Overton’s pace against New Zealand
Overton is set to make his Test debut on Thursday.
-
NewsJason Roy hits century as England crush the Netherlands to seal clean sweep
Jos Buttler and Roy led England to an eight-wicket win.
-
EnglandHeather Knights insists there is room for Test cricket in the women’s game
England will play South Africa in a multi-format series consisting of one Test, three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches.
-
EnglandEngland set 245 to wrap up one-day international clean sweep of the Netherlands
In Morgan’s absence, Jos Buttler captained the tourists.
-
New ZealandNew Zealand captain Kane Williamson returns to face England at Headingley
Williamson missed the second Test after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
EnglandJamie Overton to make England debut in third Test against New Zealand
Record wicket-taker Anderson, 39, has been withdrawn after experiencing pain in his ankle.
-
NewsJamie Overton set for England Test debut in place of injured James Anderson
Anderson has ‘got a bit of a puffy ankle’, captain Ben Stokes said.