Saeed Ajmal Says ICC Saved Ravi Ashwin From Ban Due To 'Illegal Bowling Action'

Former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal who was banned from bowling in 2014 has alleged that ICC saved Ravichandran Ashwin from getting banned due to his bowling action. Read below o know why.

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Karachi: After PTI quoted Ravichandran Ashwin asking ICC to relax the 15-degree rule to help bowl the "doosra", the former Pakistan spinner - who also bowled the doosra - Saeed Ajmal has come out and spoken against Ravi Ashwin and International Cricket Council (ICC). 

Saeed Ajmal, who himself was banned from bowling by ICC due to his "illegal action" has said that his ban was unfair as Ravi Ashwin was given extra time off to work on his action. "During that period (when Ajmal's ban was sunder process), Ashwin was out from cricket for six months. Why is that? So you can work on him and your bowler doesn't get banned," Ajmal said in a Youtube interview with Pak-based Cricwick.

Saeed Ajmal alleged that rules were changed by ICC and the international body "only care about money". "You changed all these rules and regulations without asking anyone. I was playing cricket for the last eight years. All those rules were for me. That's it," Ajmal said in a Youtube interview with Cricwick.

They don't care if a Pakistan bowler gets banned. They only care about money," he concluded.

Ajmal was banned in 2014 by ICC at a time when he was the highest wicket-taker for three straight years and was also the no. ODI bowler. "An independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan's off-spinner Saeed Ajmal to be illegal and, as such, the player has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect," the ICC said while banning him. "The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations."

Recently PTI had quoted Ashwin saying that he has appeared to ICC to relax the 15-degree rule. But Ashwin had denied these claims in a tweet. 

In another tweet, Ashwi wrote. "Really?? Pls don’t carry wrong stuff!! I will never say such a thing."