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Saeed Ajmal on course to correct action ahead of Cricket World Cup, according to PCB chairman

Image: Saeed Ajmal: Hoping to be re-tested soon

Pakistan say off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is on course to have his action cleared ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Ajmal had his action declared illegal - because his elbow extension is more than twice the allowable limit of 15 degrees - and he was suspended on 9 September by the International Cricket Council.

But Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan says Ajmal has been working hard to correct his action and he will be sent for re-testing soon.

"We are sending Ajmal informally to one of the (ICC-accredited) laboratories," said Khan.

"If we find his bowling action is ok, we will then go to the ICC for review... and it will include both his normal action and doosra."

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The ICC has accredited laboratories in Cardiff, Brisbane or Chennai.

Ajmal is the world's top-ranked bowler in one-day internationals and Pakistan are desperate to have him back in time for the World Cup which begins in four months' time.

Pakistan brought in former Test off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to help rehabilitate Ajmal at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, where two more former Test bowlers Mushtaq Ahmed and Mohammad Akram also helped.

Ajmal, who spend much of the summer with Worcestershire, told Khan this month that his elbow extension was around 20 degrees, and he hoped to bring it down to 10 degrees during the informal testing.

"When I met them (Ajmal and Saqlain) today, both told me that the bowling action is much better now, and we are prepared to get tested in front of high-speed cameras," Khan said.

Khan admitted to doubting Ajmal could remodel his action since he had been bowling with the same action for five years, after he was first cleared in 2009.

"But the good thing was that Ajmal knew what the problem was," Khan added.

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