Controversy: Saeed Ajmal calls Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin 'chuckers'

Bengaluru, Nov 3: Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has said India's Harbhajan Singh and R Ashwin are "chuckers" and blamed International Cricket Council (ICC) for being silent on the duo.

The 38-year-old Ajmal, who was banned from bowling by the ICC due to a suspected illegal bowling action, has now remodelled his action. However, he is currently not part of the national team.

In an interview to a Pakistani news channel, Ajmal hit out at ICC for being "one-sided" and targetting Pakistan bowlers for exceeding the 15 degrees bowling action limit.

Ajmal said both off-spinners Harbhajan and Ashwin exceed the permitted 15-degree limit while bowling.

"I have been watching Harbhajan Singh and other bowlers. They are still chucking. They are not being stopped (by ICC)," Ajmal said in the TV interview yesterday (November 2).

When he was specifically asked whether Harbhajan and Ashwin bowl under the 15-degree limit, he said, "If you look at them, they exceed the 15-degree limit. Our bowler Bilal (Asif) takes 5 wickets and he is called in his 2nd match. One bowler continues to bowl (above 15 degrees). And he is not being called. It shows that the decisions are one-sided against Pakistan. If ICC is following rules, let them implement against all."

Pakistan's offspinner Bilal Asif took 5/25 against Zimbabwe on his ODI debut recently and was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action.

Ajmal admitted that he did chuck but it was due to his medical condition of the right arm. The Pakistani spinner accused that Harbhajan's all deliveries are illegal.

"If Harbhajan bowls 60 balls, all are same (illegal). Ashwin chucks few deliveries but Harbhajan definitely chucks," Ajmal said.

"If tests are conducted on Harbhajan, I am sure his arm extends beyond the permitted 15-degree limit. Harbhajan is not the only one, I can point out many but I will not name them. They are all chucking. So why are they (ICC) targetting Pakistan," he added.

Harbhajan has played 103 Tests, 236 ODIs and 27 T20Is for India. He has 417 Test, 269 ODI and 24 T20I wickets.

In his 35 Tests, Ajmal took 178 wickets. He also has 184 ODI (113 matches) and 85 T20I (64 games) victims.

OneIndia News