Islamabad: Mohammad Hafeez will undergo official testing of his bowling action and could still compete at next month's World Cup as an all-rounder, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said Saturday.
"We have informed the ICC that Hafeez is ready to undergo the official testing ... later this month," Khan told reporters.
Hafeez was selected in Pakistan's 15-man World Cup squad as a batsman but the offspinner's bowling action has to be cleared by the International Cricket Council before he can also bowl in the tournament.
"Hafeez believes he will pass the official testing and, if he passes the test, he will play the World Cup as an all-rounder. Otherwise, he is there as a batsman," Khan said.
Last week Hafeez failed to clear his bowling action at unofficial testing in Chennai, India. The ICC banned the offspinner from bowling in international cricket last month after his bowling action was found to be illegal.
Hafeez's elbow extension exceeded the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the regulations when he was suspended. Some of his deliveries were also measured beyond the required limits during unofficial testing at Chennai.
However, Khan said Hafeez knew where he went wrong and the offspinner was hopeful he will pass official testing.
Pakistan's other suspended offspinner Saeed Ajmal has already ruled himself out of the World Cup after failing to pass unofficial testing at Loughborough University in England.
"There's another life after the World Cup and, if Ajmal clears his bowling action, he could also return to international cricket," Khan said.
Khan said he was informed by Ajmal that he had done all the necessary work to rectify his bowling action and was now ready to undergo official testing next month.
"Ajmal himself opted out of the World Cup because he was not ready for it," Khan said.
The PCB chairman said Ajmal has adopted a different style of delivery — known as the carrom ball — but is yet to have complete control over it.
