Saeed Ajmal reiterated on Thursday (January 22) that he was sure of clearing the official test of his bowling action, scheduled for Saturday in Chennai, but ruled out any possibility of making the Pakistan World Cup squad.
Ajmal, 37, reached Chennai on Thursday for the reassessment of his action, to be held at Sri Ramachandra Arthroscopy and Sports Sciences Centre.
He was reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in August last year and, a month later, was suspended from bowling after analyses found his action to be illegal.
“I have worked really hard to overcome the flaws and I am hopeful that I will be cleared,” said Ajmal before leaving for Chennai. “I am going to give the test on five various deliveries and I am quite hopeful that I will return as spearhead of the team after getting clearance.”
After his suspension, Ajmal did remedial work under Saqlain Mushtaq and claimed to have cleared unofficial tests in Birmingham earlier this month.
Ajmal, however, ruled out any chance of taking part in the World Cup, even though teams can replace players till February 7, a week before the World Cup starts. That, however, is only in case of injuries to existing players.
“I withdrew from the World Cup after I felt that I am not ready for it and if any player of the team gets injured even then I will not play,” said Ajmal.
Ajmal also claimed to have developed some new deliveries while away from serious action: “I have developed some new deliveries, like a carrom ball and seam-up delivery, which I have mastered and will bowl them at international level.”
Mohammad Hafeez, meanwhile, is scheduled to undergo his reassessment test in Brisbane on February 5.
Hafeez, part of Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the World Cup, was suspended because of an illegal action in November last year. Pakistan selected him as a specialist batsman for the World Cup, and are hoping he clears his test so as to be able to bowl in the tournament.
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