LAHORE - Pakistan's spinning all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez on Thursday said he was surprised but not concerned after his bowling was reported in an Indian domestic tournament, adding he had no plans to modify his action. The 33-year-old is key to Pakistan's attack in their series against Australia which starts with a T20 against Australia in Dubai on Sunday, particularly after the suspension of ace spinner Saeed Ajmal whose action was found to be illegal in testing last month.
The report by on-field umpires in the Indian tournament has no bearing on international cricket, but Pakistan coach Waqar Younis told AFP it would "shatter" the all-rounders confidence. Hafeez, however, said he was unfazed. "I am surprised over my action being reported because I am bowling like this for the last 11 years," he told AFP before departing for Dubai. "I have played six major world events: two World Cups and three World Twenty20s and nobody had ever questioned my action, this is a big surprise for me," he added.
The International Cricket Council began a crackdown on illegal bowling actions in June, deciding to strictly enforce its 15 degree limit on elbow flex -- the point where a kink becomes visible to the naked eye. The ICC suspended Sri Lanka's Sachitra Senanayake and New Zealand's Kane Williamson before Ajmal, while three more international bowlers have been reported and now face testing.
Hafeez said he doesn't fear his action will be reported once he bowls at international level. "I will bowl the same way I have been bowling throughout my career," said Hafeez, who has 122 one-day and 45 Twenty20 wickets. "I don't bowl doosra," he added, referring to the controversial delivery which turns the opposite direction to orthodox offspin. "I bowl simple off-breaks and that doesn't come in chucking." Sunday's Twenty20 will be followed by three one-days and two Tests.