George Bailey says Saeed Ajmal absence will be a factor for Pakistan in UAE tour

Saeed Ajmal’s absence hangs over Pakistan ahead of the one-day international series against Australia in the UAE.

Raza Hasan, wearing No 100, may play a key role in replacing Saeed Ajmal for Pakistan. Kamran Jebreili / AP Photo

DUBAI // George Bailey said Australia have survived the crackdown on suspect bowling actions unscathed because of strong governance by the country's cricket board.

The touring Australians have readily pointed out that their chances of success against Pakistan in this month's series have improved markedly since Saeed Ajmal was banned from bowling.

The off-spinner was ruled to have an illegal bowling action last month, in the most high-profile case of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) bid to uphold laws against chucking.

Australia’s Twenty20 match-winner Glenn Maxwell said Ajmal’s absence could be crucial for the one-day international series, which starts in Sharjah on Tuesday afternoon.

“He is going to be a big loss for them, and [it] is something we are going to be jumping all over to try to put pressure on whoever comes in,” Maxwell said.

Ajmal is one of several bowlers who have been penalised for suspect bowling methods in recent months.

Bailey said yesterday the Cricket Australia, the governing body, made a stand to guard against suspect bowling actions years ago.

“It has had very little impact on us as a group,” said Bailey, who is standing in as the Australian ODI captain in the absence of the injured Michael Clarke.

“Cricket Australia took a pretty strong stance a number of years ago to not coach players into having actions which could be deemed illegal.

“I think, retrospectively, that has worked out quite well. It was a hard decision to make because, obviously, there were some bowlers who were having a big influence around the world. But it has worked out quite well.”

It is coincidental that Pakistan are playing Australia in the UAE in the first series since Ajmal was stood down.

It was when the two nations played here in April 2009 to inaugurate the Dubai International Stadium that Ajmal was reported for the first time in his career.

Ajmal suggested that Shane Watson, the Australia batsman, had implied to the umpires that the Pakistan off-spinner’s action was suspect – a claim Watson and his teammates strongly denied.

Ajmal was subsequently cleared and became arguably the international game’s most potent spinner in the ensuing five years.

This year, the ICC have conducted more vigilance and more rigorous testing for suspect bowling actions, and Ajmal has been found to be bowling with an illegal technique.

“Pakistan will obviously be trying to prove they don’t rely too much on Ajmal,” Bailey said. “As an opposition it will pose different challenges, but if you look at his record over a number of years, there is no doubt he has been very important to Pakistan.”

Ajmal turns 37 next week and his future participation in the Pakistan side, if his action is eventually cleared, is limited. As such, they need to find a successor quickly.

Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain, said Raza Hasan, 22, the left-arm spinner who was the one ray of light in the six-wicket T20 loss on Sunday night, provides a reason to be optimistic.

“It is very difficult to replace Saeed Ajmal,” Misbah said. “He has been the No 1 or No 2 bowler in the last three or four years, but I think Raza Hasan is also a very good bowler.

“If Saeed is not there, I think somebody just has to raise their hand and try to fill that gap. Raza has showed that before.

“You have to go forward and move forward and I think he can be a bowler who can really give something to Pakistan.”

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