DUBAI, Dec 6 (AFP): Ace spinner Saeed Ajmal is in Pakistan's 30-man preliminary squad for next year's World Cup, despite serving a suspension at the moment for an illegal bowling action.
The 37-year-old off-spinner is undergoing remedial work on his bowling action which was deemed illegal in September this year.
His action was reported as suspect during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in August.
Ranked as number one bowler in the world in one-day cricket in August, Ajmal's suspension was a huge blow to Pakistan's hopes of lifting the World Cup, being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand and being held in February and March.
However, chief selector Moin Khan hoped Ajmal will be cleared.
"We have included Ajmal in a hope that he will be cleared," Khan told. "We have been monitoring him during his remedial work."
Preliminary Squad: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Sharjeel Khan, Sami Aslam, Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Sohaib Maqsood, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Umar Gul, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Raza Hasan, Yasir Shah, Shahid Afridi, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Sohail Tanvir, Sarfraz Ahmad, Kamran Akmal.
