PCB want apology from Broad over Ajmal tweets

Cricket365
May 25, 2014

The Pakistan Cricket Board have lodged a complaint with their England counterparts over comments made on Twitter by Stuart Broad, who implied that spinner Saeed Ajmal's bowling action was illegal.

Broad responded to a tweet from former England skipper Michael Vaughan, who had posted a picture of Ajmal's action and wondered about the legality of it. Broad then tweeted: "This has to be a fake photo?!

"Bowlers can bowl very differently in a lab while being tested compared to needing wickets in the middle."

Ajmal's action has been tested by the ICC in the past, but though his elbow is well bent, he has been deemed not to be passing the 15 degrees of 'flex' and is thus not illegal. The PCB have demanded an apology.

PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said: "We have sent a letter to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and we have enquired from them what action are they planning against Broad since he is a centrally contracted player.

"He (Ajmal) is upset and not happy but we have told him we are now handling this issue with the ECB."

While Ajmal was not upset over Vaughan's comment, given he's retired and a commentator, he was disappointed that Broad, a current player, had voiced such an opinion. He said he trusted the respective boards to deal with it though.

He told <i>pakpassion.net</i>: "Broad's dig hurt me the most.

"Former players will sit in the commentary box or wherever else and say some things for attention but you don't expect such things from a fellow professional cricketer who is still playing cricket.

"It was disappointing to read Broad's comments, but we are dealing with it and we hope to get an explanation from the ECB about Broad's comments."