Pakistan bowler Saeed Ajmal says ban from cricket has been torture

Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal says serving a suspension from international cricket has been the most difficult time of his life.

The 37-year-old off-spinner had his bowling action reported as suspect in Sri Lanka last August and he was subsequently banned after biomechanical analysis of his delivery showed his arm was bent beyond the 15-degree limit allowed by the International Cricket Council.

However, he underwent remedial work on his action and was then cleared to return after a reassessment in February.

And Ajmal will return later this month, having been named in the Pakistan squad in all three formats for their upcoming tour of Bangladesh.

"It was torture living without cricket," said Ajmal.

"I have endured eight months of pain and it was the most difficult time of my life.

"I did my rehab and remedial work with the support of my family, friends and the Pakistan Cricket Board and now I am quite hopeful that I will be able to bowl as effectively as I used to before the suspension.

I was in regular touch with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and was always trying to pump him and the other players up through my good wishes, but it was tough to be away from the team.

"I see no problems with my remodelled action, as I have done enough work on it."

Ajmal had to sit out the recent World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and could only look on from afar as Pakistan went out in the quarter-finals, beaten by eventual champions Australia.

"I watched the World Cup on television and, for 45 days, I wanted to enter the television and play alongside my teammates and do my part," he said.

"I felt they were missing me as I was always effective in the batting power-plays, when I used to pick up wickets, and that was missing from our game."

"I was in regular touch with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and was always trying to pump him and the other players up through my good wishes, but it was tough to be away from the team.

“These are difficult times for Pakistan cricket but I am convinced there is no dearth of talent and, in one year's time, the team will be settled through concerted efforts and we all will do our best to lift our beloved sport.”

Ajmal has enjoyed a fine career, and has taken 178 Test wickets, 183 more in one-day internationals and 85 in T20 internationals, and he was ranked the No 1 bowler in the world in one-day cricket prior to his suspension.