Pakistan have moved to clarify Saeed Ajmal's comments over the degree of tolerance the ICC allow in his bowling action.
Off-spinner's action within normal ICC limits, says Pakistan chief
Pakistan have moved to clarify Saeed Ajmal's comments over the degree of tolerance the ICC allow him in his controversial bowling action.
ICC regulations allow a bowler to straighten their bowling arm by a maximum of 15 degrees, but Ajmal appeared to suggest the ICC allowed him 23.5 degrees of movement.
However, an old accident prevents Ajmal straightening his arm completely, which means that while his forearm is at an angle of 23.5 degrees to his upper arm the actual amount of straightening during delivery is within the 15 degrees permitted.
Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema said in a 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.
"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.''
Tolerance
ICC cricket general manager David Richardson confirmed this, saying: ''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.''
Off-spinner Ajmal took 24 wickets in Pakistan's 3-0 series whitewash against England, with the legitimacy of his doosra - which spins away from the right-hander - called into question.
Ajmal, who had his action reviewed by the ICC in 2009, said: "Someone is telling me my action is bad, but the ICC allow me to bowl 23.5 degrees because my arm is not good, but that's my problem.
"Apart from that there is no problem with my action, it has been cleared by the ICC."
