DHAKA: Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been banned from bowling in international cricket by the ICC after his action was deemed to be illegal for all deliveries.

The decision was taken after an ICC accredited team of bio-mechanics experts tested his action at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, reports cricinfo.

Ajmal can apply to the ICC for a re-assessment at any time after modifying his action.

ICC said, “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.”

ICC also said, “The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations.”

Ajmal is the No. 1 ranked bowler in the ICC ODI rankings and is among the top ten in Tests and Twenty20 internationals. He is the highest wicket-taker across formats in the last three years.

Ajmal, who has been Pakistan's lead spinner in all formats in recent years, was reported after the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle last month.

This was the second instance of Ajmal being reported for a suspect action. In April 2009, the bowler had been reported while bowling the doosra, and was cleared the following month.

In the last few months, Sri Lanka offspinner Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand's Kane Williamson were reported and subsequently banned from bowling due to illegal bowling actions.

BDST: 1420 HRS, SEP 09, 2014