Akram satisfied with Ajmal's first competitive outing in bid to clear bowling action

Pakistan's national selector Muhammad Akram has said that he is satisfied with ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal's first outing against Kenya as the bowler bids to get cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his bowling action.

Ajmal had been named in Pakistan A's squad for their last two matches against Kenya so that his modified bowling action could be assessed in a match situation before being sent for another official test.

Ajmal picked up a lone scalp in his six-over spell as Pakistan A won their fourth one-dayer, reduced to 28-overs-a-side due to foggy conditions, by 118 runs against Kenya at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, The Express Tribune reported.

Akram, who is also a member of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Illegal Bowling Action Committee, said that he is 90 percent satisfied with what he has seen from Ajmal's bowling and added that the off-spinner would only improve from here.

Akram claimed that Ajmal has developed new varieties in his bowling, which would help the off-spinner maintain his lethal touch in case he doesn't have the same bite in his 'doosra' delivery.

Akram said that Ajmal has been trying to bowl a carom ball and the one with the seam up.

After the match, Ajmal said that he felt really well playing after three months. He claimed that he is happy that he is out again on the ground after three months and felt really comfortable.

The off-spinner said that he has come back after a big gap so his bowling would improve with more match practice.

Meanwhile, Saqlain Mushtaq is expected to arrive in Pakistan on Saturday to help Ajmal and Muhammad Hafeez in their rehabilitation process before going for official tests, the report added.