PCB expert panel to assist suspended Ajmal in remodeling bowling action

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has provided its expert bowling panel to assist suspended ace offspinner Saeed Ajmal in helping him better his bowling action and former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq is also among the big-name help provided by the country.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan said that Saqlain along with a team of the board's own experts, including spin bowling consultant Mushtaq Ahmed and former Test fast bowler Mohammad Akram, will also work with Ajmal.

The PCB decided against appealing Ajmal's suspension because it said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) no longer took medical evidence into account, Sport24 reported.

Khan said that they did not see much chance had they gone into appeal, and added that that is the reason the board decided to start remedial work on Ajmal's bowling action at the National Cricket Academy.

Ajmal's importance to Pakistan, with the World Cup in five months, was evident by his ICC ranking as No 1 in ODIs and top 10 in Test cricket.

Khan is hoping that after a six-week rehabilitation programme starting next week the PCB could be in a better position to see if Ajmal's bowling action could be reassessed by the ICC.

Khan said that Saqlain, who also used the doosra in a nine-year test career to 2004, would be coming to Pakistan on 22 September to start working with Ajmal. The off-spinner will report to the NCA on Monday and will skip the national Twenty20 tournament.