Hafeez responds to PCB notice, says ‘never criticised ICC’

All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez on Wednesday submitted his response to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) show-cause notice for “criticising the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules related to reporting suspect bowling actions”.

Hafeez, who was recently cleared for bowling after a third suspension over suspect action, in the response said he had not criticised the ICC. The cricketer claimed that his interview with BBC Urdu was presented out of context.

“I only touched upon the technical aspects,” the 37-year- old said, adding that his statement was misinterpreted.

“There are so many things influencing [who gets called for suspect actions], it has a lot to do with the power of [some] boards and nobody wants to take them on,” Hafeez was quoted as saying by BBC Urdu.

“Mostly there are soft corners and relations between people which no one wants to spoil. What I say is why not implement the rule and get every bowler in the world to go through [the testing process]. What’s the difficulty in that?” Hafeez had allegedly said in the interview.

On April 17, Hafeez underwent a re-assessment of his bowling action at the Loughborough University where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension in his bowling action was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations.

Hafeez was first suspended from bowling in December 2014 after he was reported in November 2014 during a Test series. Following remedial work on his bowling action, he was re-assessed and permitted to resume bowling in April 2015.

The off-spinner was then suspended from bowling in July 2015 for 12 months following a second suspension within 24 months. He was re-assessed and permitted to resume bowling in November 2016.

He was reported for the third time during the Abu Dhabi ODI against Sri Lanka in October 2017 and was subsequently suspended from bowling in November 2017.