Hafeez seeks more time before ICC tests on bowling action

Seasoned Pakistan all-rounder and former Twenty20 captain Muhammad Hafeez has asked for more time from the Cricket Board before appearing for an official assessment test of his bowling action by the ICC.
A reliable source in the PCB told PTI that Hafeez was recently asked if he had recovered from his calf injury and was ready to undergo the ICC bowling assessment test.
"But Hafeez has asked for some more time before taking the test which will decide whether he has remodelled his bowling action well enough to clear the ICC test," the source said.
He said although Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan had all been working out at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore but according to the medical panel, Hafeez needed some more time to make a complete recovery from his injury which forced the team management to send him back from the World Cup in early February.

"At the moment the PCB is also not sure about where Hafeez stands as unless he takes the bowling assessment test and his action is cleared his place in the national team also becomes a matter of debate," the source added.
He said the PCB was keen to have Hafeez take the bowling assessment test before the tour to Bangladesh in late April but was not in a position to ask for a date from the ICC.

"The PCB decided to ask Hafeez for his availability after he kept on saying after returning from Australia that his injury was not a serious one and he could have recovered in time to play the latter half of the World Cup matches," the source added.

Hafeez's bowling action was declared illegal by the ICC last November but the selectors still sent him with the Pakistan squad for the World Cup in the hope that he would clear the test before the start of the tournament.
However, this didn't happen as he had to return home with the fitness problem which he suffered during the second one-dayer against New Zealand in early February.