Dubai: Veteran Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been reported for a suspect bowling action during the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said that the Pakistan team management which received the match officials’ report expressed uncertainty over Hafeez’s bowling action being legal or not during the Wednesday match.
An ICC media release read, “Hafeez’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC illegal bowling action regulations. He is required to undergo testing within 14 days, and, during this period, Hafeez is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the assessments are known.”
Thus, this is the third time in total that the 37-year-old has been reported for suspect bowling action. Earlier he was suspended from bowling in December 2014 after which he was cleared the next April.
In June 2015, his bowling action came under the scanner for the second time which thus became his second suspension within a period of 24 months. He was handed a 12-month ban from bowling in international cricket.
Hafeez had his bowling action reassessed at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane and would be allowed to bowl after the uncertainty is cleared over the legality of his bowling action.
The veteran bowled just eight overs and conceded 39 runs while Pakistan went on to win the match and claim an unassailable 3-0 win against Sri Lanka.