ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has hired Carl Crowe, a UK-based bowling coach, for Pakistan all-rounder M Hafeez's upcoming bowling action test and hopes to clear him before the start of the ODI series against England.

Hafeez has faced problems with his bowling action since 2014 and in July 2015 was banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months after his action was found to be illegal for a second time since November 2014.

Hafeez was a key player for Pakistan before his bowling action was reported as he took 52 wickets in 47 Tests and another 129 ODI and 46 wickets in T20 Internationals. A PCB official Monday said that the PCB hoped that Hafeez got cleared before the start of the ODI series against England. "Crowe has already started working with Hafeez since the last three days in Worcestershire, where Pakistan played a tour match before the third Test against England at Edgbaston, confirmed the PCB," he said.

It may be mentioned that the bowling coach has worked with West Indies off spinner Sunil Narine, who later cleared his bowling action test conducted by the International Cricket Council (ICC).