PAKISTAN team manager Naveed Akram Cheema has denied that spinner Saeed Ajmal has special International Cricket Council (ICC) dispensation to extend his arm beyond the permitted 15 degrees. Ajmal, who took 24 wickets in the 3-0 Test series whitewash of England, has said that, because of an old accident which means he cannot straighten his arm properly, extra leniency up to 23.5 degrees has been granted.
An ICC spokesman then denied any special case has been made for Ajmal, confirming there are no exceptions to the world governing body’s rules.
And Cheema said in a Pakistan Cricket Board statement: “The ICC’s level of tolerance of 15 degrees relates to the degree of elbow extension that is permitted in the bowling action, i.e. the amount by which the arm is straightening.
Previous tests conducted on the action of Saeed Ajmal show that the degree of elbow extension is well within ICC’s tolerance levels.”
The statement continued: “Saeed Ajmal was referring to the angle of elbow abduction, i.e. the angle of the upper arm to the forearm and not the degree of elbow extension. This angle is approximately 23 degrees in Saeed’s case.”
Ajmal’s doosra caused particular alarm, with former England captain Bob Willis questioning its legitimacy.
David Richardson, general manager for cricket at the ICC, has stressed there were no special allowances being made for Ajmal.
Richardson said: “There is a big difference between the ‘elbow carry angle’ (elbow abduction) and the degree of elbow extension. There is nothing preventing a bowler bowling with a bent arm, provided he does not straighten it beyond the permitted degrees of tolerance.” (PA Sport)