Karachi: Just a few days after receiving the good news that he could continue running his cricket academy at the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad, an angry Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended the central contract of off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for his recent comments in the media .
PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan told reporters in Lahore yesterday that the central contract of Ajmal had been suspended and all payments stopped to him pending an inquiry into his comments which he had made in the media in recent days.
"I was disappointed after hearing the comments of Saeed (Ajmal) who is a senior player. Because when his bowling action was reported the board specially hired Saqlain Mushtaq to work with him and modify his action," Shaharyar said.
"We did everything we could to help him and support him because he has been a top player for Pakistan," he added.
Ajmal appearing on a television channel recently criticised the ICC's policy on bowling actions and accused the body of double standards.
He also said that he felt let down as no one from the PCB except chief selector Haroon Rasheed had contacted him twice since he last played for Pakistan in April in Bangladesh.
Ajmal has been asked to explain his conduct by the PCB in a show-cause notice issued to him after the interview.
The PCB had placed him in category B of the central contracts even though the off-spinner has not played since April for the national team.
The PCB chief said as a senior player the board expected a more mature approach and behavior from Ajmal.
