New Delhi/ Karachi: The pioneer of 'doosra' Saqlain Mushtaq today came out in support of Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has been suspended from bowling international cricket by the ICC after his action was deemed illegal by parent body's expert panel.
Read: ICC bans Saeed Ajmal due to ‘illegal’ bowling action
Saqlain, one of the most wily off-break bowlers of all time took to micro-blogging site twitter offering his help for the troubled spinner.
I will help and support saeed ajmal to the best of my ability if required
— Saqlain Mushtaq (@Saqlain_Mushtaq) September 9, 2014Ajmal's teammate and fast bowler Umar Gul also expressed his solidarity with his colleague and wished that he would soon be back in Pakistan colours. Gul wrote on twitter.
Wish @REALsaeedajmal can modify his bowling action n get back with a bang.biggest asset of Pakistan cricke.all prayers wd him.
— Umar55 (@mdk_gul) September 9, 2014Read: Pakistan Cricket Board to appeal against Ajmal's suspension
However South African opening batsman Quinton de Kock made a tongue-in-cheek remark on the social networking site about the decision on Ajmal.
"Whether he chucks it or not, I'd like to see someone chuck it better than he does #SaeedAjmal" De Kock commented.
Incidentally, Ajmal has taken the highest number of wickets in international cricket across all formats in the past three years. While it was 89 wickets in 2011, it rose to 95 in 2012 and was a whopping 111 during 2013.
Akhtar advises Ajmal to legally challenge ICC ban:
Having been at the receiving end of chucking accusations during his playing days, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has advised Saeed Ajmal to legally challenge the new protocol of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on bowling actions.
"I just fear that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) does not leave Ajmal alone at this testing time for him and Pakistan cricket. I think Saeed has to decide for himself whether should legally challenge the ban and new protocols or not," Akhtar said on Geo News channel.
The former pacer who himself faced problems with his bowling action in his career and was twice reported for his action and cleared, said if he had been in Ajmal's place he would take the legal route.
"I think legal action is the best option for Saeed at this time. I am surprised at the number of bowlers being reported for suspect actions all of a sudden by the ICC match officials. This new protocol needs to be challenged," he added.
Shoaib said another option was that if Saeed worked hard on his bowling action it could be modified for good effect. "I was fortunate that when I was playing the board supported me a lot, particularly former chairman Tauqir Zia and the same is needed for Saeed."
Pakistan's former captain, Muhammad Yousuf said that Saeed's future now depended on how strongly the PCB pleaded his case with the ICC.
"It will all boil down to how much influence the PCB has in the ICC," he added.
He said the ban on Saeed was a big blow to Pakistan cricket as he had been our top bowler for while now.
"It is a hard time for Saeed but I hope the PCB fights his case properly and if hard work is done his action can be corrected with the right measures," he said.
