Muhammad Hafeez again suspended from bowling

Lahore: Pakistan all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez has been banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months following an independent assessment of his action, which took place at the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai on 6 July.

The 34-year-old was assessed after the legality of his bowling action came under question by the match officials during Pakistan’s first Test victory over Sri Lanka in Galle (17-21 June).

Following the match, Hafeez was reported by the match officials pursuant to theICC Regulations for the Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions (the “Regulations”) and subsequently underwent the independent assessment in Chennai in accordance with the regulations. The assessment revealed that Hafeez’s elbow extension exceeded 15 degrees while bowling and, thus, he employed an illegal bowling action.

Hafeez was originally suspended from bowling in November 2014. Following remedial work on his bowling action, he was reassessed and permitted to resume bowling in April 2015.

As this report has constituted the player’s second report within a two-year period, the first of which led to a suspension, he is now automatically suspended from bowling in international cricket for a 12-month period.

Hafeez is entitled to appeal any procedural aspect of an independent assessment that has led to this automatic suspension. However, only after the expiry of this one-year period will he be entitled to approach the ICC for a re-assessment of his bowling action.