ICC finds Ajmal's bowling action 'legal' ahead of WC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) issued a tweet on Saturday, declaring the bowling action of Pakistan's ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal as 'legal'.

The ICC said in a statement that at the retests, it was revealed that the amount of elbow extensions in the off-spinner's bowling actions for all his deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance.

The ICC stated that the umpires are still at liberty to report Ajmal in the future if they believe that the off-spinner is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal actions from the retests, The Dawn reported.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board's senior media manager, Raza Kitchlew, Ajmal's inclusion in Pakistan's World Cup squad was unlikely but they would wait on the ICC Technical Committee's word on the matter.

Kitchlew revealed that the 15-man squad is already complete and even in the case of an injury, the ICC's Technical Committee would have to approve of any change, adding that the Pakistan selection committee, then, would obviously use its discretion.

But, Kitchlew added that that aside, he believes that they must all be glad that Ajmal is now cleared to play international cricket again.

Ajmal was suspended from bowling after the ICC had declared his action as illegal in September 2014. He was initially reported for a suspect action during a Test match against Sri Lanka.

Ajmal, who had undergone biomachanic tests in Chennai on Jan 24, is now clear to play international cricket but his inclusion in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming World Cup remains unlikely.

Pakistan would open their World Cup campaign with a match against archrivals and title-holders India in Adelaide on February 15, the report added.