Right thing to do
Hopefully Pakistan’s star off-spinner Saeed Ajmal will be able to overcome his suspension, for faulty action, and return to the international team in time for next year’s world cup. The team’s chances are not so bright in the best of times; taking away the most consistent performer will undoubtedly do it much harm, even set it back psychologically. And hopefully Saeed Ajmal will be the last Pakistani bowler to be suspended. ‘Chucking’, or bowling with a bent arm, is one of the simpler rules of the game to understand, and should not be allowed to recur with the speed it does, especially with regard to Pakistan.
Time was when players with naturally bent elbows, which medically qualifies for ‘deformity’, were allowed a slight bend in the elbow while delivering the ball. But now medical technology has advanced to the point where the 15 degree bend allowed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) can be checked with precision. And all member boards of the ICC are now mandated with clearing their bowlers. If there is a natural problem, it should be within allowed parameters. And if there is genuine chucking, the bowler should not make it past minor leagues.
Ajmal’s case is queer. He does not have a natural deformity. But he has developed a very visible jerk in his bowling stride. And the elbow appears clearly bent from some angles. This was not always so, and part of the responsibility rests with the team’s managers and coaches who are hired, among other things, to prevent just such things from developing. He seemed to have acquired the jerk while perfecting his doosra, the one that spins the other way. And with time, he began bowling the stock delivery more than the normal off-spring variety, and the abnormality in the bowling action deepened. Not only did the board’s support structure not give it any attention, they also did not stop Ajmal from exhibiting himself, and his weakness, on every international stage possible – Tests, one dayers, T20s, even country cricket.
And now that the problem has presented itself, it is useless to indulge in senseless accusations, as have been heard on the media, that the Indians lobbied against us, or some powers want to weaken Pakistan in the world cup, or Shoaib Akhtar’s novelty, that the Indians be invited to help us in negotiating with the ICC. The only practical hope lies with Ajmal forgetting his front-arm action, and developing a side-arm approach. Such biomechanics have been developed, and if willing, a player can remove such problems from his action. This is where the board, coaches, manager, and team must help Ajmal. Otherwise, as things are developing, simply fighting back might not bring him back, at least not in time for the big cup.