Ajmal hit with fine

Saeed Ajmal was punished for failing to get permission from the Pakistan board before speaking to the media

The Pakistan Cricket Board has fined and warned off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for violating its code of conduct.

Ajmal was reported by the umpires for a suspect bowling action at the end of the second one-day international against Australia in Dubai last week.

The 33-year-old, in comments made to the media, blamed Australia’s Shane Watson for the incident, suggesting the all-rounder had tipped off the umpires.

But team manager Yawar Saeed fined Ajmal an undisclosed amount after finding him guilty of breaching the code.

PCB director of operations Zakir Khan said: “The PCB’s code of conduct demands that players first get permission to speak to the media and Ajmal had not done so."

Pakistan captain Younus Khan, meanwhile, has backed Ajmal’s bowling action.

“I’m quite certain his action will be cleared once the bio-mechanic tests are conducted,” Younus said.

The PCB said it would approach Australian biomechanic expert Dr Bruce Elliot, who has worked with Shoaib Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed, to conduct the tests.

Ajmal is free to play until the tests are conducted, but will be suspended if they reveal his action is illegal.