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Ajmal's action raises concern in Indian camp
Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal's bowling action generated a fresh controversy on Monday after senior Indian players reportedly questioned the legality of his deliveries even as the ICC defended the Pakistani bowler, saying his action was well within "the allowed degree of tolerance".
Almost two months after English players had raised concerns about Ajmal's action, it is now the Indians who have raked up the issue after their sensational Asia Cup triumph over Pakistan on Sunday.
According to media reports, some Indian seniors have raised questions about the legality of Ajmal's doosra. Ajmal had scalped the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar and had returned with figures of 9-0-49-1 in the high-voltage match against India.
BCCI officials, however, did not confirm whether the team had raised objections over Ajmal's action. It is also not known whether the Indian Board is planning to lodge a formal complaint.
Television channels showed visuals of Indian coach Duncan Fletcher imitating Ajmal's action in bowling the doosra in the dressing room and discussing with the players.
No issue with Saeed Ajmal's action, says Lorgat
The International Cricket Council sought to put a lid to the raging controversy surrounding Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal's bowling action, saying the tweaker is well within "the allowed degree of tolerance".
According to a television report, Indian cricketers have raised concern over the bowler's action after the stupendous six-wicket victory over arch rivals Pakistan in Sunday's Asia Cup match in Mirpur.
Chasing 330, India rode on a superb batting display by young Virat Kohli to overhaul the victory target with more than two overs to spare.
"We do whatever protocol allows us to do and let us not forget that the match officials, the umpires are entitled to call any bowler, who has got a suspect action," said ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat.
"In Saeed Ajmal's case we have tested him, we have monitored him even in the live situations, he bowls within the allowed degree of tolerance. So there isn't any issue with him," Lorgat told Times Now.
'He is well within the degrees of tolerance'
He said there is always a difference between what we see and what we perceive.
"We need to be careful about what the eye sees and what the reality is. You are allowed to bowl with an arm that you don't straighten in the course of action and he is well within the degrees of tolerance", he said.
The 34-year-old Ajmal is in the midst of controversy over his action. Just before the Asia Cup, the English cricketers raised concern about the bowler. He later claimed that he had a special dispensation from the game's governing body to straighten his arm beyond the allowed 15 degrees.
'ICC has allowed me 23.5 '
Ajmal, during an interview to an English media house, after Pakistan's 3-0 Test win over England in the UAE, had claimed, 'ICC has allowed me 23.5 because my arm is not good because of an accident, that is why a problem.'
The comments raised some sparks in India as well, with a former cricketer calling Ajmal an "outright chucker".