Match officials have reported promising new Pakistan offspinner Bilal Asif for suspect bowling action, a day after he helped Pakistan cruise to a 2-1 series victory over Zimbabwe in the third ODI in Harare.
According to reports, Bilal’s action was reported after match officials reviewed video footage of the offspinner from the third ODI in which Pakistan cruised to a seven-wicket win.
The news comes as a blow to the Pakistan team after the promising bowler and all-rounder became only the fourth spinner to dismiss five or more batsmen in an ODI without any help from other fielders.
Bilal made his debut on October 3 and picked up 5 wickets for 25 runs in only his second match, the third best bowling figures by a Pakistan offspinner in ODIs — only behind Saqlain Mushtaq’s 5 for 20 in 2000 and Saeed Ajmal’s 5 for 24 in 2013.
Pakistan retained Bilal for the Zimbabwe ODI series to assess his credentials ahead of a Test series with England and to fill the gap left by Mohammad Hafeez, who has been banned for one year for an illegal bowling action.
