Hafeez fails to clear second bio-mechanics test for illegal bowling action in Chennai

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has reportedly failed to clear the second bio-mechanics test conducted to assess the legality of his bowling action in a lab in Chennai, India.

An anonymous Pakistan Cricket Board official revealed that the bending of Hafeez's arm both round and over the wicket exceeded the limit of 15 degrees, the legal level set by the ICC for bowlers.

The official disclosed that over the wicket, Hafeez turned his arm at angles measuring from 16 to 18 degrees while round the wicket it ranged between 12 and 19 degrees, The Dawn reported.

The PCB had selected Chennai as the venue for Hafeez's test on grounds that a couple of bowlers had been cleared from there in the recent past.

However, the PCB is still of the opinion that compared to banned off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez's problems are far too less and therefore, he would be selected in the World Cup squad as he would have more than one month to improve his bowling action before the World Cup which commences in Australia and New Zealand on Feb 14.

Ajmal, whose action was found to be at an alarming level of 48 to 50 degrees, has opted out of the World Cup selection, as it would still take him a considerable time to remodel his action and get it approved from the ICC.

The final Pakistan squad for the World Cup is to be named on January 7, the report added.