Ajmal's average elbow extension found to be more than twice the allowable limit

Suspended Pakistan ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal's average elbow extension had been more than twice the allowable limit during testing of his bowling action in Australia last month.

According to the 23-page International Cricket Council (ICC) report on the world's top ranked bowlers in ODIs, Ajmal had an astonishing 40 degrees with a relatively small standard deviation of 2.5 degrees at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

The ICC rules allow for an elbow extension of 15 degrees. The cricket governing body suspended Ajmal on Tuesday for a suspect action, putting in doubt his appearance at the World Cup in five months, The Dawn reported.

None of the deliveries by Ajmal during the eight overs of biomechanical testing, some overs were not of the usual six balls, came close to meeting regulations, the report said.

During testing, Ajmal bowled off spin from over and around the wicket, the doosra, and quicker balls. Pakistan Cricket Board chief medical officer Dr. Sohail Salim attended the testing, during which Ajmal was monitored by 27 cameras, including two high-speed cinematic cameras and three high-speed mobile video cameras.

The experts were satisfied with Ajmal's replication of his suspected deliveries from when he was reported during the lost first test against Sri Lanka in Galle last month. The assessment said Ajmal appeared to have hyper-mobility of the right wrist due to an earlier injury.

Pakistan, which will not appeal the suspension, will attempt to rehabilitate Ajmal at its National Cricket Academy in Lahore from Monday, and has gathered former leading bowlers, including offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq, to help.