Ajmal's action declared legal

The ICC's Dave Richardson has urged Saeed Ajmal (right) that "no bowler is ever 'cleared'" of a suspect action

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Pakistan bowler Saeed Ajmal is free to resume his international career after his action was declared legal by the International Cricket Council.

The 31-year-old off-spinner was reported by the on-field umpires for a suspect action during last month’s one-day international series against Australia in Dubai.

But Ajmal, whose place in Pakistan’s 15-man World Twenty20 squad was in doubt due to the referral, has now passed an independent test which has ruled all of his deliveries can be bowled satisfactorily.

Ajmal’s doosra was thought to be the main concern but Professor Bruce Elliott, a member of the ICC panel of human movement specialists, deemed that each of his deliveries fell within the 15 degrees of tolerance a bowler is currently allowed in the delivery action.

Nevertheless, the ICC were keen to point out that Ajmal, along with every other bowler, would be subjected to ongoing assessment from officials.

Dave Richardson, ICC general manager, said: “Saeed Ajmal can continue to bowl in international cricket on the basis he uses an action consistent to that used in the latest independent analysis of his action.

“However, it is important to emphasise that no bowler is ever ‘cleared’ as it is impossible to predict how a player might deliver the ball in the future.

“All bowlers are subject to further reporting if the match officials are of the view that they have concerns about whether a delivery or deliveries conform to the Laws of Cricket when observed with the naked eye.”