Ajmal Reported for Suspect Bowling Action; Test within 21 Days

Pakistan off spinner Saeed Ajmal has been reported for suspected bowling action, following his performance in the first Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Ajmal will now have to undergo a test of his action within 21 days, as per ICC regulations. The 36-year-old will reportedly continue bowling till the results are out.

According to the ICC's match officials report, some concerns over Ajmal's deliveries hav been cited, and the officials concluded that the bowler's action needed to be tested. The report has been handed over to Pakistan's team manager Moin Khan.

However, Khan was confident about Ajmal. He believes the bowler will clear the test.

"We were informed by the ICC and it came up as a surprise," Khan told Cricinfo. "But it's just a procedure as he is going to undergo a re-test on his action and we are sure there he will be cleared and will be available thereafter. Meanwhile we will play him in the next Test. There is no panic at all, he is still our best bowler and we all support him."

Ajmal was reported for suspect bowling action in April 2009 as well, while bowling the doosra. However, the player was cleared the following month.

Meanwhile, PCB stated in a release that it would only react on the matter after the test results are out.

"Once such a report has been made, the ICC rules take over and the entire process is controlled and regulated by these rules," PCB said. "The PCB has no choice but to wait for the outcome of the process before proceeding further in the matter."

Ajmal was surrounded by controversies earlier this year, when England's Stuart Broad started to question the legality of the bowler's action.

The bowler played a key role in Pakistan's victory over England in Test series in the UAE. He also claimed a career best 13 wickets, while playing for Worcestershire as an overseas player in the County Championship.

This led Michael Vaughan, a former England captain, posting a photograph of Ajmal bowling on Twitter with the caption: "You are allowed 15 degrees of flex in your delivery swing... #justsaying."

And Broad replied: "This has to be a fake photo?! Bowlers can bowl very differently in a lab while being tested compared to needing wickets in the middle."

Ajmal had sought an explanation from the ECB, following the tweet.

In recent years, Sri Lankan offspinner Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand's Kane Williamson have been banned from bowling due to illegal bowling actions.