Sydney: Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal may be in line for a late World Cup call-up after the International Cricket Council on Saturday approved his return to international cricket, ending his suspension for an illegal bowling action.
The 37-year-old Ajmal can only be added to Pakistan's squad if an ICC technical committee rules that an incumbent squad member must be replaced because of a legitimate injury.
Pakistan has already been granted permission to replace fast bowler Junaid Khan with Rahat Ali. Now off-spinner and all rounder Mohammed Hafeez, who is also suspended due to a suspect action, has a calf injury which has prevented him undergoing a bowling test while in Australia.
His removal would allow Ajmal to join the Pakistan squad.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said no firm decisions on Hafeez's future had been made.
"We want him (Hafeez) to play a major part of the World Cup and if the physios suggest that it's not possible then we have to take any step," Misbah said Sunday.
Ajmal's lack of recent games may count against him. His only games since his suspension have been one-day matches for Pakistan A against Kenya in December.
"Let's see how it goes in the next week, because the team is already announced and everybody is here," Misbah said. "He hasn't played any sort of cricket yet for the last five, six months.
"That's a big concern because to go into a competition of high degree cricket, you need a little bit of a level of cricket behind you."
Ajmal has taken 183 wickets in 111 one-day internationals at an average of 22.18, though he has been less effective in Australian conditions.
