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Hafeez reported for suspect action again

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Hafeez was suspended twice previously for illegal bowling action © Getty

Mohammad Hafeez, the Pakistan allrounder, has been reported for a suspect bowling action for the third time in his career. Hafeez's bowling action came under question during the third One-Day International against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (October 18).

Hafeez had already been reported twice for an illegal bowling action and was suspended from bowling both times.

He will now be required to submit an independent analysis of his bowling action within 14 days. Hafeez will be allowed to bowl in international cricket until the results of the tests are out. If Hafeez fails to submit the assessment, he will be banned from bowling until he submits an analysis that clears him of a wrongful action.

"The match officials' report, which was handed over to the Pakistan team management, cited concerns about the legality of the 37-year-old's bowling action," the ICC said in a statement.

Hafeez was first suspended from bowling in December 2014, after his action was found suspect during a Test against New Zealand in November 2014. The suspension stood for nearly five months, and the player was finally cleared to bowl in April 2015 following remedial work and retests.

A couple of months later, Hafeez found himself in hot water again as his action was again reported during the first Test against Sri Lanka. As this was his second suspension within 24 months, Hafeez was not cleared to bowl in international cricket for 12 months from July 2015.

Hafeez did not bowl again in international cricket until earlier this year. In the meantime, he underwent reassessment of his bowling action at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, and was eventually cleared in November 2016.

If Hafeez's action is now found to be faulty after the assessment, he won't be allowed to bowl until he clears the test again. However, unlike his second suspension, the 37-year-old won't be barred for any specific time frame and hence can apply for a reassessment anytime as per his convenience.

Since the start of the year, Hafeez has been a regular contributor with the ball for Pakistan, having bowled in all but one of the 17 games Pakistan have played this year. Now, with his bowling under the scanner again, it will interesting to see if he comes out unscathed.

© Cricbuzz

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