Cricket World Cup: Pakistan unlikely to add Saeed Ajmal to squad despite lifting of ICC ban

PAKISTAN appears set to snub one-day cricket’s No.1 bowler Saeed Ajmal for the World Cup despite his action being cleared by the ICC.

Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal speaks to media at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on February 7, 2015. The bowling actions of Pakistan's ace spinner Saeed Ajmal and Sohag Gazi of Bangladesh have been deemed legal, the International Cricket Council said February 7. AFP PHOTO / Arif ALI

PAKISTAN appears set to snub cricket’s No. 1 bowler Saeed Ajmal for the World Cup amid fears he is no longer the same dynamic force he was with an illegal action.

Controversy is already threatening to derail Pakistan’s bid to win a second crown on Australian shores, with the hierarchy split over whether or not to send an SOS to Ajmal now his bowling action has been cleared by the ICC.

Mohammad Hafeez – currently banned from bowling himself - is set to be scratched from the Pakistan squad with an ankle injury, presenting a golden chance to call-up Ajmal.

But it’s understood he may instead be replaced by Nasir Jamshed ahead of Pakistan’s tournament-opening blockbuster against rivals India in Adelaide on Sunday.

ICC APPROVES AJMAL BOWLING ACTION

Saeed Ajmal hasn’t played international cricket since being banned by the ICC in September.

Already Pakistan overlooked an opportunity to rush wicket-taking master Ajmal back for withdrawn paceman Junaid Khan.

The cold shoulder for Ajmal is bizarre given Pakistan are battling at No. 7 on the ODI rankings.

Meanwhile, in another brewing drama, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq refused to endorse the impending return to international cricket of Mohammad Amir following jail-time and his ICC-imposed ban for spot fixing.

But the immediate future of Ajmal, the doosra king suspended for Australia’s recent tour of the UAE, was main topic of conversation around the Pakistan camp in Sydney on Sunday.

Ajmal has support from his skipper, but certainly not from superstar Shahid Afridi – who declared the controversial spinner who averages 28 in Tests and 22 in ODIs may never be the same.

“Maybe, maybe, but I think with the new bowling action, you can’t say how effective he is,” said Afridi.

“He’s clear now, but you don’t know how effective he will be.

“Maybe he will play a domestic season and then we’ll see where he’s standing.”

Hafeez is banned from bowling until he gets tested, and that isn’t possible at this time due to his injury.

Even if Hafeez was to get a test during the World Cup, it will take a week for the results to come back.

It’s understood Hafeez is on the verge of being omitted due to injury.

Skipper Misbah is a fan of Ajmal returning, but indicated it was unlikely unless another injury drama emerges.

“There’s a lot of ifs and buts because he hasn’t played any cricket yet. Let’s see how it goes in the next week,” said ul-Haq.

Misbah-ul-Haq faced some tough questions at Pakistan’s pre-World Cup media session.

“It’s a tough decision. On behalf of Saeed Ajmal, he’s not sure about that because he hasn’t played any sort of cricket for the last five-six months. That’s a big concern for a cricketer going into real cricket.

“(But) Ajmal has been bowling a lot of deliveries (in the nets) every day.

“Let’s see how it goes and how it progresses in this matter.

“We want (Hafeez) to play a major part in the World Cup. If he suggests that is not possible we have to take any step.”

However, Misbah was far less forthcoming on tarnished young paceman Amir, who could return from spot fixing convictions as early as September against England in the UAE.

Misbah took over the reins of the Pakistan side in the aftermath of the scandal involving Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, after the trio were banned by the ICC following a sting by British newspaper News of the World.

Many have sympathised with the decision to allow Amir back into the sport, given he was a teenager at the time, but Misbah was unwilling to give the youngster his backing.

“I always answer that by saying it’s not me, it’s about the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board. They are the ones who decide that,” said ul-Haq.

“When it will happen we’ll see, but I don’t want to comment on that.”

Asked if it was good news for Pakistan, and if he believed people were entitled to a second chance, Misbah still remained tight lipped.

“It’s a kind of thing I don’t really want to talk about,” he said.

“It’s a subject I don’t want to touch, let’s see how it goes.”