Almam blasts ICC for inconsistency on illegal action

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has accused the sport's governing body of inconsistency after off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was reported for illegal bowling action on Sunday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Ajmal, 32, was reported by on-field, television and reserve umpires during the second one-day against Australia, played in Dubai on Friday.

Under the ICC process of dealing with complaints of illegal bowling, the footage of Ajmal's action will be reviewed and independent analysis of his action will be carried out by a member of the ICC panel of human movement specialists, appointed in consultation with Pakistan.

Alam criticised ICC process of dealing with such bowlers.

"It is surprising and sad," said Alam as his team practised for the third match to be played here on Monday. "Ajmal has played against four countries and nobody raised any finger on his action and suddenly this decision comes.

"I think they (ICC) are lacking consistency in this process. He bowled exceptionally well and suddenly they decided that he has a problem with his action," said Alam of Ajmal, who took 2-19 in the first match played in Dubai on Wednesday.

Ajmal's effort, overshadowed by leg-spinner Shahid Afridi's career-best 6-38, nevertheless helped Pakistan outlast Australia by four wickets in the first match. Australia clinched the second match on Friday, also in Dubai, to level the five-match series at 1-1.

The third match will be played here on Monday.

Amjal was reported by on-field umpires Billy Bowden and Asad Rauf as well as television umpire Zameer Haider and reserve umpire Nadeem Ghouri.

Alam, himself a leg-spinner of some repute, said umpires have also been inconsistent.

"They can't decide with the naked eye about an action -- you need to see the footage -- so after watching the footage we will see what happens, but we will continue to play him," said Alam.

Alam said Ajmal bowls the so-called "doosra", which turns away from the batsman, like Sri Lanka's world record holder, off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, and India's Harbhajan Singh.

"Murali bowls such a delivery and he was cleared, Harbhajan was cleared and there is no difference between these two and Ajmal. I don't agree that Ajmal bowls s different doosra, there is only one kind of doosra," said Alam.

Alam said Ajmal was still in high spirits.

"He is all right, not disappointed. His morale is high and we will play him. No pressure on him as he is a gutsy young man and I hope he will take it lightly," said Alam.

When asked if he thought the decision was an attempt to discourage the "doosra" after South African spinner Johan Botha was also reported for the same delivery last week, Alam said: "It is an art to bowl such a delivery and not a joke.

"Ajmal has hyper-mobility in his arm and I hope everything goes well for him."