22 Apr 2015

Hafeez cleared to bowl

1:32 pm on 22 April 2015

The International Cricket Council has cleared the bowling action of Pakistani spinner Mohammad Hafeez following remedial work and retests, making him eligible to bowl in international matches.

Pakistan spinner Mohammad Hafeez

Pakistan spinner Mohammad Hafeez Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Hafeez's action was reported as suspect in the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last November.

The 34-year-old was suspended from bowling at international level after biomechanical tests on his action in Loughborough, England, revealed his elbow extension was beyond the 15 degree tolerance limit.

Under the ICC rules bowlers are allowed to flex their elbows by up to 15 degrees.

Hafeez underwent remedial work on his action and had a re-test in Chennai, India on April 9, which the ICC on Tuesday said he passed.

The clearance means Hafeez can bowl in the third and final one-day international against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Pakistan trail the series 2-0, their first series defeat against Bangladesh.

Pakistan were the worst hit of the ten-Test playing countries after the ICC launched a crackdown on chuckers in June last year.

Ten bowlers were reported for suspect actions with Hafeez, teammate Saeed Ajmal, Sri Lanka's Sachitra Senanayake and New Zealand's Kane Williamson being the high-profile casualties.

Williamson has also undergone remedial work on his action and was cleared to bowl his off spin in December, but only bowled a few overs during the recent World Cup.

Kane Williamson bowling in 2013 with an action deemed suspect.

Kane Williamson bowling in 2013 with an action deemed suspect. Photo: Photosport

The ICC, however, warned that any bowler who has been cleared can be called again by the umpires.

If a cleared bowler is reported again within two years of the first occasion he will be banned from international cricket for 12 months.