ABU DHABI: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been reported with a suspected illegal bowling action during the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Thursday.

“The match officials’ report, which was handed over to the Pakistan team manager Moin Khan, cited concerns about the legality of the 34-year-old’s bowling action,” the ICC said.

Pakistan won the match by 248 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Hafeez’s bowling action will now be scrutinized further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, one-day matches and Twenty20s.

As per the ICC rules on dealing with the suspect action, Hafeez is required to undergo testing within 21 days, and, during this period, Hafeez is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.

Hafeez is the second Pakistani behind Saeed Ajmal, also an off-spinner, to be reported in a major crackdown on bowlers with suspect actions the ICC launched in June this year.

Besides Ajmal, Sri Lanka’s Sachitra Senanayake, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi and Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utseya — all off-spinners — were reported and subsquently suspended to allow remedial work on their actions.

Zimbabwe match referee Andy Pycroft was the common official in both the Ajmal and Hafeez cases.

He was also the match referee when Ajmal was reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in August this year.

The on-field umpires in the Abu Dhabi Tests were Sri Lanka’s Ranmore Martinesz and Rod Tucker of Australia while the tv umpire was Paul Reiffel, also from Australia.

Ajmal is currently in England to have an unofficial reassessment on his remodelled action and if it is found to be within the allowed limits of a 15 degree elbow extension, then Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will apply for an official reassessment with the ICC.

Hafeez’s action was also reported during a Twenty20 league in India in September this year, but the PCB said the bowler did some remedial work in the national cricket academy in Lahore.

He was not reported during the 2-0 win over Australia, which finished last week.

Hafeez’s action was cleared after being reported in a one-day match against the West Indies in Brisbane in 2005.

Before the Australia series Hafeez said he has been bowling with the same action for 11 years.

“Look, I have not changed my action. It’s the same for 11 years now, so I am confident and have no worries over my action,” Hafeez had said last month.

PCB to appeal for Amir

The Pakistan Cricket Board will seek relaxation for fast bowler Mohammad Amir under the revised anti-corruption code of the International Cricket Council (ICC) but has ruled out appealing for Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said the board wile file an appeal with the ICC within a week for the 22-year-old Amir.

“Our legal department is preparing the documents to file in Amir’s case but at present we have no plans to do the same for Salman Butt or Asif,” Khan told reporters in Lahore on Thursday.

Former captain Butt, Asif and Amir were all banned for spot-fixing during the Pakistan team’s tour of England in 2010. The spot-fixing took place during the fourth test at Lord’s.

The trio, who also served jail sentences in the United Kingdom, have been given minimum five year bans by the anti-corruption tribunal of the ICC but while the ban for Butt and Amir ends in August, the former also has been given a two-year suspended sentence.

“Amir’s case is different from those of Butt and Asif. These two have still not really accepted their guilt. We want them to do more first to convince us they are repentant,” Khan said.

“First they convince us they want to reform themselves and then we will decide when to approach the ICC.” He said Amir had co-operated with the PCB and ICC in reforming himself. Khan, however, ruled out an immediate return for Amir to competitive cricket.

“It is a process under the new anti-corruption code and it will take time. Only the ACSU can give relaxation to a banned player,” he said.

Under the revised code, a banned player can apply to ICC’s ACSU to allow him to resume playing domestic cricket before the end of his ban.

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria is also serving a life ban for spot-fixing since 2012.

Windfall bonus

Pakistan’s cricket board on Thursday announced a team bonus worth nearly $150,000 to reward the side for their first series win over Australia in 20 years.

Pakistan routed Australia 2-0 in their “home” series in the United Arab Emirates last week to lift themselves to No.3 in the world Test rankings.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said cash awards would be given to the players to recognize the win and individual performances.

“Chairman of the PCB Shaharyar Khan has approved bonus and performance incentives totalling 14.75 million rupees ($147,500) to the triumphant Pakistan squad and team management and support staff that beat Australia,” said a PCB release.

Pakistan backed up the win over Australia with a thumping 248-run victory against New Zealand in the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.