M Hafeez's action found to be suspect for a THIRD time but no bowling ban - A fair decision by ICC?

[Abdullah719]

He has been suspended from bowling in international cricket but can apply for a re-assessment at any time and have his action cleared, according to the following ICC release.

Additionally, he is also free to bowl in domestic cricket and PSL if PCB allows.

Is this fair for a repeat offender?

The International Cricket Council today announced that an independent assessment has found the bowling action of Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez to be illegal and, as such, the off-spinner has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.

The assessment revealed that the majority of his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations.

In accordance with Article 11.1 of the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations, Hafeez’s international suspension will also be recognised and enforced by all National Cricket Federations for domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdiction. However, pursuant to Article 11.5 of the Regulations and with the consent of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Hafeez may be able to bowl in domestic cricket events played under the auspices of the PCB.

Hafeez was reported during the third One-Day International against Sri Lanka, which was played on 18 October in Abu Dhabi and had undergone an independent assessment of his bowling action on 1 November at Loughborough University.

Hafeez can apply for a re-assessment after modifying his bowling action in accordance with clause 4.5 of the Regulations.

 

[Rana]

he should be banned permenantly, or Pakistan should take that into consideration and select him solely as a batsman

 

[IAJ]

Not a good newz but we all knew this was on the cards. Should be dropped now as he can not bowl.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

sadly he will torture us more now, for the good of Pak cricket he needed a ban.

 

[Abdullah719]

sadly he will torture us more now, for the good of Pak cricket he needed a ban.

Any bowler who is repeatedly found to be bowling with an illegal action needs a lengthy ban otherwise the whole process is just a farce.

 

[IAJ]

sadly he will torture us more now, for the good of Pak cricket he needed a ban.

Why he needed a ban? He is not creating while fielding or batting.
The selectors should show courage and drop him because he was in the team for his bowling.

 

[Mamoon]

A disgrace and a cheat of the highest order. He needs to be booted out for good.

 

[IAJ]

Any bowler who is repeatedly found to be bowling with an illegal action needs a lengthy ban otherwise the whole process is just a farce.

Again, why? It is his bowling which is found illegal and he can’t bowl in international matches and rightly so.

 

[KyoOne]

The fact that he can immediately reapply might be one of the reasons he was not careful with his remodelled action.

We have seen Narine being almost equally effective with a remodelled action, I dont see a reason why Hafeez would not be effective with the round-arm action (he displayed in last 4th ODIs with good results)

 

[Abdullah719]

Again, why? It is his bowling which is found illegal and he can’t bowl in international matches and rightly so.

I don't mean a ban from international cricket. A ban from bowling.

It doesn't make sense.

Last time his action was found to be illegal, he got a 12-month ban.

But a third time offence and only a suspension? Where is the logic?

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Why he needed a ban? He is not creating while fielding or batting.
The selectors should show courage and drop him because he was in the team for his bowling.

the selectors are seemingly unable to drop him.

Also as a fan base, we are now suffering from Stockholm syndrome

We think his bowling is now crucial to our success, despite since the initial ban he has been worse even though he still chucks.

In the Champions Trophy, he bowled 24 overs the entire tournament and only took 1 wicket going at 5 an over. That is not something 'crucial'.

In the last series against SL he failed with the bat and didnt do anything great with the ball, but because of some economcial overs and a couple nice shots we have smart posters here salavating over him.


So what do you expect the selectors to do ? In general they have always been gutless.


I have said it before and I'll say it again, the Professor is the biggest hurdle in our progression as an ODI team and the champions trophy doesnt change that.

The next world cup will be in England, his bowling won't be of much use, his batting will still be awful as he has too much of an ego to bat at 6, and he will in reality be 40, yet despite all that I would not be surprised if he plays everyone odi between now and then.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

I don't mean a ban from international cricket. A ban from bowling.

It doesn't make sense.

Last time his action was found to be illegal, he got a 12-month ban.

But a third time offence and only a suspension? Where is the logic?

I think its because its more than a year after his last suspension, something like that. If he had been caught ealier he would have gotten a three year ban.


Fact is the professor knew Haris was breathing down his neck and so tried to be clever with his action just like Ajmal does in PSL and domestic cricket.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

He should be banned - simply because it plays havoc with Pakistan's plans.

Plus when he is bowling, he is always under a cloud - which means the team is under a cloud. Not a great way to play your game.

Having said that, not his fault if he is not banned.

ICC is being absolutely idiotic for allowing someone tested above the limit to carry on. What is the message they are trying to give?

 

[aloo paratha]

Are they dumb? This is the 3rd time and they haven't even given him a ban? You could be found to be chucking once and it'd be okay because maybe you didn't know you were. 2 times is a bit of a stretch but 3 times? And they still haven't done anything about it? They should know he's just gonna come back and start chucking again like the last 2 times.

This is literally cheating, how are they letting this go so easily...

 

[hadi123]

Fair enough he doesn't get banned. He is not allowed to bowl in International Cricket anymore until he fixes his action. If you keep on failing your driving test, you are allowed to retake as many times until you pass.

 

[ahmedzee]

Big blow for Pakistan as Hafeez is the top all-rounder in ODIs. His bowling will be missed. However, I need to mention that it is the ICC law that a bowler needs to rectify and tested again if found guilty the third time. Why people don't like this decision. It is an ICC decision, just like it is the ICC decision to introduce the new action testing protocol.

Hafeez found himself called way back in 2004, and then his action was found to be legal. Fast forward 10 years and he's called again for the action that was deemed legal for 10 years. As a player I would always contest the new protocol.

 

[Hasan123]

He should get a long ban for being a repeat offender.

 

[MMHS]

I don't understand, why so many thinks it's a wrong decision?

What ICC has done is that they have allowed PCB to grow up and should know what a mature cricket nation should do with serial cheats in such cases. If everything is guided by the teacher than PCB is still in kindergarten.

I knew ICC will go soft against MoHa, but they have played the ball in PCB's court beautifully.

 

[HitWicket]

Hafeez found himself called way back in 2004, and then his action was found to be legal. Fast forward 10 years and he's called again for the action that was deemed legal for 10 years. As a player I would always contest the new protocol.

Or it's not the exact same action...?

 

[ahmedzee]

Or it's not the exact same action...?

The only difference I see is, before he had a slight stop in his action Pre-2014. Now I don't see that.

 

[HitWicket]

The only difference I see is, before he had a slight stop in his action Pre-2014. Now I don't see that.

Remember that he was cleared to return under the current testing procedures yet was then again found to be chucking. Can take only a tiny variation/degradation of the action to take it over the limit.

 

[Boycottisno2]

simple .... INZI dont select Hafeez.... that will sort things out .... fullstop

 

[last_knight]

simple .... INZI dont select Hafeez.... that will sort things out .... fullstop

With PCB and selectors, its not about selecting a cricket team where you protect every player. With PCB and selectors, Its about setting a board of chess and manouvering your pawns to protect Kings and Queens. Good as they are, selectors can do a "Castling" to safeguard King and NT anytime.

 

[wrongun]

I don't think he deserves a ban from the game- his chucking isn't deliberate (if it were he could just conveniently stop for the tests), it's just a poor action he can't correct.

A ban from bowling- yes. A ban from all cricket- no, he doesn't deserve that.

I do find it weird the PCB can choose to let him play in domestics- is that the kind of thing they would be too, to be kind, or would they take a stand to protect the integrity of their domestic leagues and say we follow all ICC bowling standards here too?

 

[Godhelpma]

Fair decision .

 

[Abdullah719]

I don't think he deserves a ban from the game- his chucking isn't deliberate (if it were he could just conveniently stop for the tests), it's just a poor action he can't correct.

A ban from bowling- yes. A ban from all cricket- no, he doesn't deserve that.

I do find it weird the PCB can choose to let him play in domestics- is that the kind of thing they would be too, to be kind, or would they take a stand to protect the integrity of their domestic leagues and say we follow all ICC bowling standards here too?

The question is about a ban from bowling, a ban from all cricket is obviously not reasonable.

 

[The_Odd_One]

He should have been banned from bowling for at least 2 years.

 

[AFM]

I don't think he deserves a ban from the game- his chucking isn't deliberate (if it were he could just conveniently stop for the tests), it's just a poor action he can't correct.

A ban from bowling- yes. A ban from all cricket- no, he doesn't deserve that.

I do find it weird the PCB can choose to let him play in domestics- is that the kind of thing they would be too, to be kind, or would they take a stand to protect the integrity of their domestic leagues and say we follow all ICC bowling standards here too?

It is obvious he does chuck deliberately. He has to replicate the action he bowled with for the Tests.

Deserves to be dropped.

 

[Amjid Javed]

This should be the end of hafeez in international team now, time to move forward. simply not good enough to be in LOI sides as a batsmen alone.

 

[Madplayer]

Such players should be banned from international cricket for 3 years but allowed to bowl and work on their actions in domestic cricket. 3 years is a big enough threat imo to prevent such thing.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Waiting for the ICC = PCB comments to flow. �� I'm fed up of this ICC=BCCI

 

[Abid Z]

Hafeez is the only truly world class all rounder we have. His deliveries are only slightly over the 15 degrees and many are within the legal limit. The problem isn’t so much hafeez and his bowling as the PCB or Lahore university being unable to make use of this.