Chennai: Bilal Asif's bowling action cleared by ICC

LAHORE: (Dunya News, AFP) – Pakistan off-spinner Bilal Asif’s bowling action has been cleared after the test in Chennai. The clearance report now allows the bowler to represent the national side in the One-Day International (ODI) series against England in United Arab Emirates (UAE), reported Dunya News.

Bilal Asif first impressed everyone with his brilliant bowling against Zimbabwe and then passed the bio-mechanic test as well.

International Cricket Council (ICC) has cleared Bilal Asif and now he will be able to represent Pakistan against England in the ODI series.

According to sources, 8 deliveries by Bilal Asif were tested in the Chennai bio-mechanic lab. All these deliveries were found out to be legal, after which his action was cleared by the ICC.

The bowling action of the 30-year-old spinner was reported as suspect during the third one-day international against Zimbabwe at Harare on October 3.

He underwent a biomechanical test of his action in Chennai, India on October 19.

"At the assessment (in Chennai), it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension in all of Asif s deliveries was well within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations," said an ICC release.

The news comes as a relief for the newcomer as his career was in danger of being derailed by questions over his action.

Asif only burst onto the international scene in June this year when he was selected in Pakistan s Twenty20 squad for the tour of Sri Lanka.

But he only made his international debut on the tour of Zimbabwe, claiming 5-25 in only his second game during which on-field and television umpires as well as the match referee reported his action.

Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam said the news came as a big relief for the team as well as for the player.

"We were confident that his action would be cleared," Alam told AFP. "Its a good news for Asif as well as the team."

Asif is in line for a Test debut in the third and final match against England which starts in Sharjah from Sunday after paceman Imran Khan was ruled out with a hand injury.

He was included in the squad of 16 as cover for spinners Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar.

The ICC launched a crackdown against chuckers in June last year, during which as many as 12 bowlers were reported.

Among them were Pakistan s Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez alongside Bangladesh s Sohag Gazi, New Zealand s Ken Williamson, Sri Lanka s Sachitra Senanayake and Tharindu Kaushal, and Zimbabwe s Prosper Utseya and Malcolm Waller.

Hafeez was banned from bowling for 12 months after his action -- cleared in April this year -- was reported for a second time in July.