Karachi: Senior Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is set to undergo a bowling assessment test by the International Cricket Council (ICC) later this month.
A 12-month ban on Hafeez from bowling in international cricket expired on July 12 and as per ICC rules and regulations governing bowlers who have been suspended from bowling due to illegal bowling actions, Hafeez is now eligible to appear in a bowling assessment test.
An official with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said a final decision on when Hafeez should take the test will be taken after consultations with the team management.
"He will most probably appear for the test after the second cricket Test and before the start of the third Test against England," he said.
The official said the team management was keen to get a clear picture about whether Hafeez can bowl in the last two Test matches and the limited-over series as they wanted to have an extra bowling option in England.
The official admitted that since Hafeez had suffered a knee injury in April he had spent little time working on his modified bowling action.
"Most probably we will first have him appear in a unofficial bowling test in England before we send him for the ICC assessment test," he added.
PCB Chairman, Shaharyar Khan who is in the UK these days, had already held discussions with captain Misbah-ul Haq and coach Mickey Arthur and bowling and assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmad on the probability of Hafeez clearing the ICC test.
"The PCB first wants to be sure his bowling action is modified and his elbow extension is within or close to the ICC limits of 15 degrees," the official said.
Hafeez has faced problems with his bowling action since 2014 and in July 2015 he was banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months after his action was found to be illegal for a second time since November 2014.
Hafeez, 35, had his bowling action reported last year after the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in June.
The all-rounder was a key person for Pakistan before his bowling action was reported as he took 52 wickets in 47 Test matches and another 129 ODI and 46 wickets in T20 internationals.
Hafeez has also scored 20 centuries in Tests and ODIs.
