Maninder slams 'frustrated' Ajmal for labelling Indian spinners as 'chuckers'

Former Indian spinner Maninder Singh has described Saeed Ajmal as a 'frustrated man' after the out-of-favour Pakistan spinner had accused Indian off-spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh of chucking.

"I really feel sad and sorry for Ajmal. It does feel sad when a cricketer goes down that way. But his action should have been corrected a long time ago because he was bending his arms 35 degrees," Maninder told exclusively to ANI.

"I don't agree with the fact the ICC allows bowlers to bowl with 15 degree arm bend arm. I have always believed that the umpire on field should and always take that call. As far as Ajmal is concerned you can't be allowed to bowl with 35 degrees. So it is total frustration that he is started taking other names," added Maninder, who had played 35 Tests and 59 ODIs.

He also called both Ashwin and Harbhajan as clean as their bowling action bend below 15 degrees permissable level.

According to the new rules introduced by the ICC in March 2005, bowlers are allowed to straighten their arms up to 15 degrees.

Ajmal, who has claimed 178 Test and 184 ODI wickets, struggled to find a place in the national squad after being cleared to bowl again by the ICC. He had missed the World Cup due to an illegal action.