File picture of Pakistan cricketer Saeed Ajmal (second right) during a practice session at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka.


AFP/Karachi

Suspended Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal yesterday claimed to have cleared a private bowling action test, but it remains uncertain whether he will feature in next year’s World Cup.
The private test was conducted in a laboratory in Edgbaston in England and Ajmal now needs to clear an official reassessment in an International Cricket Council (ICC) accredited laboratory in Chennai, India on January 24.
The 37-year-old was suspended over illegal bowling action in September last year and last month withdrew from the World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand in February-March.
His withdrawal came after remedial work carried out under former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to alter his bowling action fell short.
Ajmal said he is confident he can clear the official test after success in the private assessment.
“I cleared the private test,” Ajmal told AFP. “The tests were conducted in Edgbaston and all my deliveries including the ‘doosra’ (his trademark swing) were within 15 degrees.”
Under the ICC rules all bowlers are allowed to straighten their bowling arm by 15 degrees, beyond which the action is deemed illegal.
Ajmal’s first assessment in August last year revealed his arm extension went to 43 degrees.
Ajmal, however, remained unsure whether he would be able to feature in the World Cup or not.
“Look, I want to be as confident in my bowling as I was before (suspension) and want to be effective, so (whether) I can still play the World Cup or cannot play, remains to be seen.
“I want to do what is best for my country and for my team.”
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan on Tuesday ruled out Ajmal’s participation in the World Cup, saying it was too late to consider it.
Ajmal was included in the preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup, but after his withdrawal was dropped from the 15-man party announced last week.
However, under the ICC rules all teams can replace a player before the February 7 deadline, a week before the World Cup starts.
Pakistan team will play its first match against title-holders India in Adelaide on February 15.

PAKISTAN RETAINS SUSPENDED AJMAL IN CENTRAL CONTRACTS
Pakistan cricket authorities yesterday retained the suspended spinner Saeed Ajmal while also adding the newcomers fast bowler Sohail Khan and the leggie Yasir Shah in their list of central contracts.
The 37-year-old Ajmal is under suspension for illegal bowling action since September last year and will appear in a reassessment test in Chennai, India on January 24.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the central contracts will run from January to March 31 this year.
Ajmal was retained in “A” category along with Test and one-day captain Misbah-ul Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi and Junaid Khan.
Paceman Junaid was lucky to be retained in the top category despite being sidelined through injury since October last year.
“PCB has extended central contracts up to March 31, 2015 the central contracts awarded for the year 2015 will be awarded in April,” said a PCB release.
Shah and Sohail—both part of Pakistan’s 15-man squad for next month’s World Cup --  have been awarded central contract in Category ‘D’, the release added.
The term of the previous contracts expired Dec. 31, 2014.

Full list of contracted players
Category ‘A’ (6): Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Junaid Khan.
Category ‘B’ (3) : Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul.
Category ‘C’ (6): Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Adnan Akmal, Khurram Manzoor, Nasir Jamshed, Abdul Rehman  
Category ‘D’ (18): Sohaib Maqsood, Sarfraz Ahmed, Bilawal Bhatti, Sharjeel Khan, Zulfiqar Babar, Fawad Alam, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Raza Hasan, Umar Amin, Haris Sohail, Rahat Ali, Shan Masood, Mohammad Talha, Anwar Ali, Yasir Shah and Sohail Khan.