Pakistan offspinner Ajmal sparks new debate has added to the debate over his bowling action by claiming that the International Cricket Council allowed him to bend his arm beyond the permitted 15 degrees. “ICC allowed me to bowl 23.5 degrees because my arm is not good, because of an accident,” Ajmal told the BBC. Ajmal was cleared by the ICC in 2009 after he was reported for a suspect bowling action. Bowlers are not allowed to bend their arm beyond a 15 degree limit. Ajmal was named Man of the Series after he took 24 wickets in Pakistan's 3-0 defeat of England in the Test series that ended Monday. Former England fast bowler Bob Willis has also questioned Ajmal's “teesra,” a delivery that spins away from a right-handed batsman. An ICC spokesman said that the game's governing body was looking into Ajmal's comments and will make a formal announcement soon. England coach Andy Flower added that granting Ajmal extra leniency would be problematic. “That's ridiculous,” Flower said. “That is an ICC issue, though. They are there to police the game, and make sure that it is played within the rules — so they've got to scrutinize his action. Ajmal's bowling action, reported by match officials during a one-day series against Australia in 2009 before it was cleared after remedial work by experts, once again came under suspicions following his career-best 7-55 in the first Test, also played in Dubai. Meanwhile, Ajmal believes no one has yet been able to pick his mystery “teesra” ball. “I used the “teesra” sparingly in the series and I don't think anyone has been able to spot it as yet and that makes it more dangerous,” Ajmal told the Pakistani “Ary News” channel Tuesday. “I will reveal which is the “teesra” delivery after the (one-day) series is over. Until then it remains a challenge for everyone to identify this ball in the coming one-dayers.”
