In an independent test conducted by Bruce Elliott, a member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists appointed in consultation with the PCB, yesterday, Ajmal’s action was cleared, and he can continue playing international cricket. He will only face a ban if he is reported again.

The analysis revealed that in all of Ajmal’s deliveries, the elbow extension was below the 15-degree level permitted by the ICC. "We have received a report from biomechanics expert Bruce Elliott in which Ajmal's action while bowling a contentious delivery has been cleared," Zakir Khan, PCB's director of operations is quoted telling the AFP. "Elliott has sent his report to the PCB as well as to the ICC."

The reporting had put the Pakistani off-spinner’s inclusion in the national squad for the World T20 into jeopardy, and Pakistan's coach, Intikhab Alam was displeased with the process, and had questioned the ICC. "Ajmal has played against four countries and nobody raised any finger on his action and suddenly this decision comes," he had said. "I think they [ICC] are lacking consistency in this process. He bowled exceptionally well and suddenly they decided that he has a problem with his action."

However, though the ICC has now cleared his action, he is to remain under scrutiny. ICC’s statement claimed that "the effect of Elliott's report and any report from a biomechanical expert cannot be to clear him without limitation in the future. The effect of Prof Elliott's report is simply to confirm that Ajmal is capable of bowling with an action which complies with ICC Regulations," and whenever "Ajmal bowls in a match in the future, his action will be under the scrutiny of the match officials."

The ICC general manager of cricket, David Richardson, told the AFP: Ajmal can continue to bowl in international cricket on the basis he uses an action consistent to that used in the latest independent analysis of his action… However, it is important to emphasise that no bowler is ever cleared, as it is impossible to predict how a player might deliver the ball in the future."

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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