Pakistan has received another major setback with 2015 World Cup approaching fast as all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez action has been suspended from bowling by International Cricket Council (ICC) for having an illegal bowling action.

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Ace spinner Saeed Ajmal is already suspended and continue to go under remedial work in order to come up with an improved action but so far he has not been successful in unofficial tests.

Now the news of Hafeez has stunned the think tank as two of their main players in the World Cup lineup has not only came under the radar but have been suspended and it has become a race against time for them to come up with a clean action and get through another ICC official bowling test.

“The International Cricket Council today confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez to be illegal and, as such, the off-spinner has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect,” the ICC said.

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

Hafeez, who was reported after the first Test match against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last month, can apply for a re-assessment after he has modified his bowling action in accordance with clause 2.4 of the Regulations for the Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions.

The analysis was performed on 24 November by the ICC’s accredited team of Human Movement Specialists using the National Cricket Performance Centre, Loughborough.

Meanwhile, one of the national selectors said that they had included Shoaib Malik for the 30 World Cup probables as a backup for Hafeez.

“Malik was included just as a precaution in case Hafeez was suspended and what a decision it has now proven to be,” the national selector said.

“The PCB will try to help Hafeez undergo testing quickly and get clear ahead of naming of final 15-man squad for the world cup but in case he isn’t cleared than we’ve Malik as an all-rounder who can bowl off-spinners.”