Hafeez to undergo an official test for his action on 6th July

Pakistan’s all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is scheduled to undergo an official bowling test on 6 July 2015 in Chennai. July 4 was the previous deadline for the reassessment of his action but the PCB had requested an extension on the grounds that Hafeez’ Indian visa, which he needed to travel to the ICC-accredited Testing Centre in Chennai, was delayed and hence he was given an appointment on Wednesday.

Hafeez was reported on 21 June 2015 and according to the regulations of ICC he needed to appear for testing within 14 days. He will face a one year suspension straight from bowling if his elbow flex is found to be over the allowed 15 degree limit. This is also because this would the second time that his action is found illegal in the last two years.

Mohammad Hafeez will not be a part of the playing XI for the third test match against Sri Lanka but he will be with the team till 6 July.

Hafeez was reported for an illegal action after the first test which Pakistan won. According to ICC regulations, he is allowed to bowl until the results of the tests are out and he bowled 14 overs in the second Test in Colombo, which Pakistan lost by seven wickets.

Hafeez has had this problem once before when he was reported in November last year and was subsequently banned in December because his elbow extension was as high as 31 degrees.  After a delay due to injury, Hafeez was cleared to bowl only this April following tests in Chennai. This might prove to be a big blow for Pakistan because if he doesn’t clear the tests, they would lose an all-rounder.