KARACHI - Pakistan off-spinner Bilal Asif will undergo a biomechanical test in India after his bowling action was deemed suspect during a one-day match in Zimbabwe, officials said Thursday.
Asif took five wickets in only his second one-day match in Harare on October 5 but after the game his action was reported by match officials as suspect. Under the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules a bowler is required to clear biomechanical tests to get cleared. If tests find Asif is bending his elbow more than the allowed 15 degree limit by the ICC, then he will be suspended and will have to undergo remedial work on his action. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Asif will undergo the biomechanical test in Chennai, India.
"Pending his visa to India Asif will travel to Chennai and will have his action tested on October 19," a PCB spokesman said. Asif is the third Pakistani bowler whose action has been reported as suspect in the last year. Off-spinners Saeed Ajmal's and M Hafeez's actions were reported last year. Ajmal was cleared in February this year after a suspension and remodelling his action, but has since lost his wicket-taking ability and his career hangs in the balance.
Hafeez, reported for the first time in November last year, was cleared after remodelling his action in April this year. But a second report on his action in July led to a 12-month ban from bowling in international cricket. He can only apply for a reassessment of his action in June next year. The PCB said it is taking serious measures to check bowlers with suspect actions, with as many as 29 bowlers reported last year.