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Hafeez again reported for suspect action

Pakistan off-spinner in the spotlight following first Test

Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez has again been reported for a suspected illegal action following his side’s 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Galle in the first Test, according to ESPN.

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Hafeez was reported last September while playing for Lahore in the T20 Champions League, as well as last November during a Test match against New Zealand.

"The match officials' report, which was handed over to the Pakistan team manager Moin Khan, cited concerns about the legality of the 34-year-old's bowling action," an ICC release said at the time.

Hafeez was subsequently found guilty during testing in December, with an elbow extension of 31 degrees – well beyond the permitted level of 15 degrees.

As such, he could now be banned from bowling for up to a year if his action is again found to be illegal.

The part-time off-spinner bowled 10 overs in each innings of the match, taking 2-40 in the first to add to his tally of 51 Test wickets at 33.80.

The 34-year-old has been a reliable contributor with the ball for Pakistan, and is ranked sixth among the world’s allrounders in Tests.

ESPN reported that Pakistan team management had confirmed the reporting of Hafeez, giving him 21 days to undergo testing in which time he is still permitted to bowl – leaving him available as an option with the ball for captain Misbah-ul-Haq for the second and third Tests of this current series against Sri Lanka.

After he was found guilty last December, Hafeez went to a biomechanics lab in Chennai to undergo remedial work but failed an unofficial test soon after.

The top-order batsman missed the World Cup through injury but his action was cleared a short while later after more testing in Chennai.