Pakistan and Middlesex off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez has been suspended from bowling in all the England and Wales Cricket Board competitions. Hafeez was reported for a suspected action on August 30 in the Vitality T20 Blast in a match between Somerset and Middlesex in Taunton.
The England board has found Hafeez’s action to be illegal after a bowling action assessment. In fact, this is not the first time when Mohammad Hafeez has been suspended from bowling due to his action. He was reported for his action back in 2005 and since then he has been reported, suspended and cleared.
Hafeez will need to correct his action.
“I have received the ECB Bowling Review Group report on my bowling action,” Hafeez said in a statement on Tuesday (December 24). “Despite identifying procedural testing flaws, which have been accepted by the review committee, as well as realizing the findings will potentially affect my reputation as a world-proven all-rounder, I accept the Bowling Review Group findings.
“As per ECB regulations, I am ready to appear for independent analysis at an ICC-accredited center, so that I become eligible to play in ECB-organised events.”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Hafeez was signed by Middlesex in mid-season as a replacement for former South African skipper AB de Villiers. The off-spinner went through an independent assessment at Loughborough University. Subsequently, he challenged the findings which showed his elbow extension exceeding the 15-degree tolerance limit for bowling actions.
Consequently, the only way Hafeez can bowl in ECB organized tournaments is to request the reassessment by correcting his action. The right-hander has scored 6614 runs in the 218 One Day Internationals he has played for Pakistan. The off-spinner has also scalped 139 wickets in the 50-overs version of the game.
The veteran has scored 3652 runs in 55 Test matches and has taken 53 wickets in the Test fold. The off-spinner has also taken 54 scalps in the T20I format.