Amir set for return to cricket

mohammad amir the banned fast bowler, could start playing competitive cricket as early as next month, with the ICC set to approve his reintegration following the introduction of a revised anti-corruption code. The ICC had interviewed Amir on Friday about his banned years, to determine if they could find any difference in the player.

The PCB had written a letter to the ICC in November, requesting that the governing body review the conditions of Amir's spot-fixing ban and grant immediate relief to the player so that he could return to domestic cricket before the end of his five-year ban in September 2015. As per the new anti-corruption code, banned players could be allowed to return to domestic cricket before the end of their penalty if they meet certain criteria.

With the Pakistan domestic season about to finish before starting again in October, Amir's only chance of competitive cricket would be a possible return in the Super Eight T20 Cup in Pakistan after the World Cup. That has encouraged the belief that his representatives might seek to win him a contract in English county cricket when the season begins in April: considering his circumstances, an English county which took the plunge would rarely get the chance of such value. 

Such plans could well be scuppered, however, by UK visa rules concerning restrictions in the case of criminality. Amir was sentenced to six months imprisonment and Immigration rules state: "A conviction which resulted in a sentence of less than twelve months' imprisonment... provides for a mandatory refusal of entry clearance where a person has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to less than 12 months' imprisonment, unless a period of 5 years has passed since the end of the sentence."

What would not be entirely clear unless the issue was tested is whether Amir's part in the spot-fixing con would be classed as a mandatory refusal or whether grounds for flexibility would exist.

Amir's reintegration, whenever and wherever it takes place, will be based on a conclusion of positive behaviour since the spot-fixing scandal arose in the 2010 Lord's Test. In the last four years, Amir has completed an Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) education program with PCB, showed a high degree of remorse, and disclosed relevant information to the PCB as well as the anti-corruption units.

Though the domestic season in Pakistan will end next month, a few Grade 1 teams had already shown a keen interest to sign the player for next season. National Bank of Pakistan, who had revoked Amir's contract after his ban, later offered to retain the bowler upon his return.

The PCB, meanwhile, is also intent on bringing Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif back to competitive cricket, though their international futures look bleak. The board has asked Butt and Asif to fulfill the conditions of their ban before they can pursue the players' case with the ICC. It is understood that the PCB will monitor both players closely and wait another five months before writing to the ICC's ACSU to consider their case.

Unlike Amir, who pleaded guilty during the criminal investigation in London, Butt and Asif continued to insist they were innocent, even when evidence was presented against them, and confessed only after they had lost all options of appealing against their bans.

The remaining five years of Butt's ten-year ban and the remaining two of Asif's seven-year ban were to be suspended sentences on the condition that they commit no further breaches of the anti-corruption code and participate in a PCB-run anti-corruption education programme. The PCB had already dispatched a comprehensive plan to Butt and Asif, and both players are likely to start their rehabilitation in the coming month.

last chance for Ajmal, Hafeez to clear ICC action test, date announced

LAHROE: last chance for banned Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez to clear the bowling action test, as International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule for action review.

According to reports, ICC announced to take action review of banned off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez on 8th January 2015.

This is the last opportunity for Hafeez and Ajmal to clear the test before World Cup 2015.

However the unofficial bowling action test of Mohammad Hafeez will be held on January 3rd.

Saeed Ajmal who was banned in August this year will have the last chance to clear the teat. If he couldn’t then he will be banned for one year.

Saqlain Mushtaq said that Hafeez bowling action has the minor bend which will be corrected in a few days unlike Ajmal’s elbow bend which is taking time to correct.

Mohammad Hafeez was reported during the recent test series against New Zealand. His action  was tested in London during the series and was banned from bowling in international cricket before 2nd Twenty 20.

Saqlain said that Ajmal has a minor defect of three to four degrees which will be corrected soon.

Earlier, Saeed Ajmal had been banned from bowling in the International Cricket during the Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka this year.

He had given an unofficial test in London but unable to clear. His weapon Doosra was reported out of limit.

Saeed Ajmal set to be included in Pakistan's squad for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan's ace off-spinner, is set to be included in the 15-man squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. As per reports by Geo News, if Ajmal's action isn't cleared then, International Cricket Council (ICC) will allow Pakistan to name a replacement for the veteran off-spinner.

Earlier, Ajmal was suspended from international cricket in September after tests on his bowling action in Brisbane found that the 36-year-old spinner straightened his arm by more than 15 degrees. Since then, Ajmal has been working hard to rectify his action.

Recently, Ajmal played a few One-Day games against Kenya and also took a six-wicket haul in Pakistan 'A's crushing win by a margin of 116 runs in the fourth game of that series. Both Ajmal and his teammate, Mohammad Hafeez, will arrive in India at the end of this month to undergo unofficial tests on their bowling actions.

Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez to visit Chennai for informal tests

KARACHI: Pakistan's suspended off-spinners Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez have decided to go for informal tests to the ICC accredited bowling centre in Chennai.

According to a senior official of the Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB), both the players had themselves asked the board to send them to Chennai.

"Saeed and Hafeez apparently were not comfortable with the set-up in Brisbane and Loughborough and wanted to go to Chennai. Their travel plans are now final and we have got all clearances from the Indian High Commission and our foreign ministry," the official told the media.

He said both players would leave for Chennai in two to three days' time.

"They will be appearing in informal tests in Chennai and if they clear those tests than we will send them for the official ICC tests soon," he added.

Pakistan will be announcing its final World Cup squad on January 7 and asked if there was enough time for the board to get the bowlers cleared for the tournament, the official said they had already asked the ICC to give dates for the official tests.

"We are doing our best to facilitate both of them and we are keen to see their bowling actions cleared before the World Cup. I think we will complete all this process in two weeks time," he stated.

Hafeez was suspended from bowling in international cricket last month by the ICC after failing a bowling test soon after he was reported for his action by match officials after the first Test against New Zealand.

Ajmal is also suspended from bowling in international cricket since September by the ICC.

Both have been named in Pakistan's preliminary World Cup squad of 30 players.

Ajmal appeared in two one-day matches against Kenya last week and bowled a total of 12 overs and later said he felt confident bowling with his remodeled action.

Ajmal to play against Kenya before biomechanics test: PCB

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally decided that suspended off-spinner Saeed Ajmal should play two one-day games against Kenya this month before he goes for his final biomechanics test in Chennai. An official of the board said Thursday that Saeed would feature in one or two matches of the series against Kenya since it was not an international series. “It is a representative series not international so he will play in the last two matches against Kenya and also one or two practice games against them in Lahore,” the official was quoted as saying on a private TV channel.

He confirmed that it had been decided to send both Ajmal and Muhammad Hafeez to the International Cricket Council (ICC) accredited laboratory in Chennai. “But while Hafeez will go this week to Chennai directly from Dubai for his informal test and is waiting for his visa Ajmal will go from Lahore after playing the Kenya matches.” The official said the plan was to send Ajmal in the last week of December for an official biomechanics test which will decide whether Ajmal can be cleared to play in the World Cup or not. “Most probably he will go on December 30th to Chennai,” he added. Another official said that the PCB had also decided to seek special extension period for Ajmal and Hafeez while naming the final World Cup squad of 15. “It can be done. There are regulations which allow participating teams to seek extra time for some players to decide whether they can play in the World Cup or not.