ICC suspends Pak's spinning all-rounder Hafeez for illegal bowling action

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that Pakistan's spinning all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been suspended for an illegal bowling action, becoming the second player from the country after Saeed Ajmal to face sanction in the past three months.

Hafeez had his action reported during the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last month. The ICC said that the board has confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling action of Hafeez to be illegal and, as such, the off-spinner has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.

The ICC added that the analysis revealed that all the deliveries the off-spinner made exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations, Sport24 reported.

The board also said that Hafeez could apply for a reassessment after he has modified his bowling action in accordance with the rules.

The analysis had been performed on 24 November by the ICC's accredited team of human movement specialists using the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough, England.

The suspension is a further blow for Pakistan before the next year's World Cup as they are already reeling from leading ace off-spinner Ajmal's suspension in September.

Hafeez, who also opens the batting, gives balance to the ODI side having taken 122 wickets in 149 matches, but the all-rounder would now miss Pakistan's five ODIs against New Zealand, the first of which is in Dubai on Monday.

Hafeez would have to undergo remedial work and becomes the sixth bowler suspended under a crackdown by the ICC launched in June this year.

Hafeez had shown surprise over his bowling action being questioned. He stated that he has been bowling with the same action for 11 years and he is surprised how it has become suspect.

Pakistan's Test and ODI captain Misbah-ul Haq said that it would be tough if they don't have Hafeez as bowler, adding that the all-rounder he gives them the balance as he is two in one.