Speaking to newsmen in Lahore at National Cricket Academy, Mohammad Hafeez “I am a batsman and honestly I never even rated myself as a bowler. I just bowl naturally, bowl straight deliveries and some spin. It’s not like I do it myself to control the variation.”
“I don’t see myself on the basis of my bowling and never tried to be in the team as an offspinner. I am always a batsman and focus on batting but, yes, bowling has been a plus point. It is also important for my career as well as after all it’s helping my country and team. I am hoping that I will get through this tough time and will continue to play my natural cricket”, he added.
Hafeez was reported for suspected bowling action after the first test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. Earlier, he was reported while playing domestic cricket in India ‘Champions League T20’.
According to him, umpires had reported four deliveries from one spell during the first Test against New Zealand.
About being reported, he said “Nothing is different from what I have been bowling in the last 11 years. I never even tried changing or adding any variation in my bowling. At international level I am told that four of my deliveries were reported and umpire and referee feel they need to be scrutinized.”
“They think that by watching those deliveries with the naked eye they exceed the 15-degree limit. I have to go through with the test, there is nothing complex in it and I am optimistic that I should be cleared.”
Hafeez will undergo testing at Loughborough University, one of the newly accredited ICC testing centres, on November 24.
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