Hafeez questions ‘pick and choose’ ICC action assessment, demands to make it mandatory for all

• “I don’t want to name any bowler but there are number of bowlers, who won’t be allowed bowling in international cricket if they were reported,” says the all-rounder.

KARACHI: With a demand to declare biometric test mandatory for all bowlers especially fast bowlers; Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has raised doubts over the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s regulation that set legal limit of 15 degrees for all bowlers in international cricket.

In his recent TV interview to a private news channel, Hafeez said that his cricketing career had been disturbed during last 4-5 years. “My contribution to the team as bowler was quiet economical hence I am not enjoying my cricket as bowler, which really hurts.”

The current regulations of ICC set the legal limit of 15 degrees of permissible straightening of the elbow joint for all bowlers in international cricket. This law applies between the point at which the bowling arm passes above shoulder height and the point at which the ball is released.

Hafeez, who was reported twice over the legal limit for elbow extension, said that last time, his action was reported due to system flaws, which was accepted by the authority.

Despite admitting shortcomings in conducting biometric test, I have been forced to go through the process, he said. “As an athlete, I cannot do anything but abide by the decision given by the umpires,” Hafeez said.

“I don’t want to name any bowler but there are number of bowlers, who won’t be allowed bowling in international cricket if they were reported,” Pakistani all-rounder said.

Challenging the ICC rule, he said that test any bowler and it is for sure, no bowler either finger spinner, off-spinners or fast bowler can pass it.

Accepting that off-spinning talent is getting wiped out from international cricket arena, due to said restrictions, he questioned that how fast bowler generated power for delivering bouncers. If any rule has been introduced for the betterment of cricket then its implementation should not be selective, he maintained.

“When time comes, I will show the videos of number of bowlers having illegal action as per ICC rule but they are not reported,” Hafeez said.

Meanwhile, Basit Ali, former middle-order batman termed Hafeez’s statement as gimmick, saying that why he did not name any bowler when he was reported first.

“His statement without naming any bowler especially during last phase of his cricketing career is nothing but a gimmick,” Basit said.

To a question, he advised ICC to extend legal limit of 15 degrees to 20 degrees for all bowlers in international cricket. In addition, He also suggested ICC to transfer the power to report illegal action from square leg umpire to TV umpire in order to maintain fairness and true spirit of the game.