JournalismPakistan.com | Published November 12, 2015
Join our WhatsApp channel
KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board suspended former spinner Saeed Ajmal's contract over television comments he made about the way bowlers with illegal action are dealt with.
The 38-year-old had been Pakistan's match-winner in the last five years until he was sidelined over his bowling action before being cleared in February. Ajmal, who returned to international cricket in April after remodelling his action, claimed that Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin were chuckers, but never punished because "they belong to India."
Ajmal had also blasted the International Cricket Council's (ICC) process on the illegal action issue, claiming it singled out spinners like him.
"Why just target the off-spinners?" Ajmal questioned on two channels last week. "Why not the left-arm spinners, leg-spinners or fast bowlers?
"I can tell you that I have been through this bowling assessment process so many times and have watched and studied this issue so closely that I can vouch that if tests were carried out, there would be many other bowlers whose bowling actions would exceed the 15 degrees extension limit," said Ajmal, singling out Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh as a suspect.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan told reporters Ajmal's contract had been suspended.
"We feel sorry over his comments," Khan said. "We have taken the minimum action on the violation of discipline and have suspended his contract, stopped releasing his salary and have asked him to explain his comments."
Despite not being selected since April this year, Ajmal was retained in the "B" category in PCB central contracts.
Khan said Ajmal had been supported in his efforts to alter his bowling action.
"We supported him a lot, invited Saqlain (Mushtaq) to correct his action so his comments were sad that we did not support him," said Khan.
Ajmal had a formidable record of picking up 178 wickets from 35 Tests and 184 wickets from 113 ODI games, before his action was reported in August last year as suspect.
He was subsequently suspended a month later as his elbow was extending more than the 15 degrees tolerance limit allowed under the ICC rules.
Ajmal remodelled his action under former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq but managed just one wicket in the two one-day internationals and was wicketless in a - both against Bangladesh in April. - AFP
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.