ISLAMABAD: Former test cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq is among the big-name help provided by Pakistan to assist suspended offspinner Saeed Ajmal in remodeling his bowling action.
Saqlain and a team of the Pakistan Cricket Board's own experts, including spin bowling consultant Mushtaq Ahmed and former test fast bowler Mohammad Akram, will also work with Ajmal, board chairman Shaharyar Khan told the Associated Press on Thursday.
The PCB decided against appealing Ajmal's suspension because it said the International Cricket Council no longer takes medical evidence into account.
"We didn't see much chance had we gone into appeal," Khan said. "That's the reason we decided to start remedial work on Ajmal's bowling action at the National Cricket Academy."
Ajmal's importance to Pakistan, with the World Cup in five months, was evident by his ICC ranking as No. 1 in one-day internationals, and top 10 in tests.
Khan hoped after a six-week rehabilitation program starting next week that the PCB could be in a better position to see if Ajmal's bowling action could be reassessed by the ICC.
Saqlain, who also used the doosra in a nine-year test career to 2004, will be coming to Pakistan on Sept. 22 to start working with Ajmal, Khan said.
Ajmal will report to the NCA on Monday, and will skip the national Twenty20 tournament.
His bowling action was reported during the first test against Sri Lanka in Galle a month ago, and his whole action was later declared illegal by experts in Brisbane, where he underwent tests.
Pakistan will realize the depth of its reliability on Ajmal when it hosts a tour by Australia in the United Arab Emirates next month, followed by a tour by New Zealand in November.
