Pakistan spinner Ajmal banned over bowling action
Pakistan spinner Ajmal banned over bowling action
Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal has been suspended by the International Cricket Council for an illegal bowling action.
The 36-year-old off-spinner was reported last month after match officials raised concerns during the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Analysis of Ajmal's action revealed that "all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees" by which the arm is allowed to bend, the ICC said.
Ajmal is currently the world's top-ranked one-day international bowler.
He also has 178 Test wickets, at an average of 28.10, and is the leading wicket-taker in the County Championship this season with 63 for Worcestershire.
"An independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan's off-spinner Saeed Ajmal to be illegal and, as such, the player has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect," the ICC said in a statement.
The action was analysed by an ICC-accredited team of human movement specialists using the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on 25 August.
Ajmal, who made his international debut in July 2008, can apply for a re-assessment after he modifies his bowling action.
The ICC has recently taken action against several off-spinners.
Sri Lankan Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand's Kane Williamson were banned from bowling in July, while Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya and Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi are currently under investigation.