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Hafeez working on bowling action

Pakistan allrounder takes to social media to clear up reports he is bowling without undergoing remedial measures

Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez has dismissed a report saying he is bowling in Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20 competition without having undergone any remedial measures to his action.

Hafeez has been granted permission to continue bowling in Pakistan's domestic competitions despite being banned from bowling at the international level for an illegal action.

Quick single: Hafeez cleared to bowl in T20s

He has so far bowled only in one match, taking 3-35 against Islamabad last week, but has not been used since due to a side strain.

A report from cricket website espncricinfo.com said Hafeez had not remodelled his action since it was found to be illegal for a second time in two years in July, leading to his 12-month ban by the International Cricket Council.

But Hafeez took to social media to dismiss the report, saying he had been undertaking ongoing work with coaches at Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy for the past nine months.

Despite the international ban, it is legal for Hafeez to bowl in domestic cricket with permission, which has been granted.

"A bowler suspended in international cricket can bowl in domestic cricket with the permission of his home board," an ICC official confirmed to cricket.com.au

"The logic behind this provision is to allow the home board and the player concerned the opportunity to monitor improvement in his bowling action in a match situation, and when happy, apply for reassessment."

Quick single: Hafeez banned for 12 months

His action is also being carefully monitored by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"It's not like we are being lenient with him. The umpires can still report him if they suspect anything wrong in his action,” PCB director of domestic cricket Intikhab Alam told espncricinfo.

"Since this ongoing tournament is being televised, it's the best opportunity for us to monitor him closely.

“If he is reported at this level as well then he will be suspended for another three months."

Hafeez was first reported for a suspect bowling action in November last year after Pakistan's first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. He was suspended from bowling in December after tests at the Loughborough University in Leicestershire, but was cleared in April after re-testing at Chennai's Sri Ramachandra University.

However, he was again reported after Pakistan's Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in June and returned to the Chennai facility, where testing revealed his elbow extension was beyond the 15-degee limit, incurring the 12-month ban.

 Hafeez can not apply for another reassessment of his action before his 12-month ban is served, but can continue to bowl in domestic competitions with permission.