Hafeez set to undergo bowling test

A 12-month ban on Hafeez from bowling in international cricket expired on July 12 and as per ICC rules, he is now eligible for a bowling assessment.

Mohammad Hafeez was banned from bowling for 12 months in July 2015.

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is set to undergo a bowling assessment by the International Cricket Council (ICC) later this month.

A 12-month ban on Hafeez from bowling in international cricket expired on July 12 and as per ICC rules, he is now eligible for a bowling assessment.

An official with the Pakistan Cricket board (PCB) said a final decision on when Hafeez should take the test will be taken after consulting the team management.

“He will most probably appear for the test after the second Test and before the start of the third Test against England,” he said.

The official said the team management was keen to know whether Hafeez can bowl in the last two Test matches and the limited-overs series as it wanted to have an extra bowling option in England.

The official admitted that since Hafeez had suffered a knee injury in April, he had spent little time working on his modified bowling action.

“Most probably, we will first have him appear in an unofficial bowling test in England before we send him for the ICC assessment test,” he added.

PCB chairman, Shaharyar Khan, who is in the UK, had already held discussions with captain Misbah-ul-Haq, coach Mickey Arthur and bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmad on the probability of Hafeez clearing the ICC test.

“The PCB first wants to be sure his bowling action is modified and his elbow extension is within or close to the ICC limits of 15 degrees,” the official said.

Hafeez has faced problems with his bowling action since 2014 and in July 2015 he was banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months after his action was found to be illegal for a second time since November 2014.