Saeed Ajmal: Remodelled spinner likely to return to Worcestershire

Saeed Ajmal last played for Pakistan in an ODI on 30 August - 10 days before his ICC ban

Saeed Ajmal will be cleared to play for Worcestershire and Pakistan again once his remodelled action is approved, says former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

Having been reported for a suspect action by the umpires during the first Test with Sri Lanka in August, Ajmal was then banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Ajmal, 37, has since been working with former Pakistan Test player Saqlain.

"We've changed the action and follow through," Saqlain told BBC Sport.

"We have changed his horizontal bowling arm movement and, at the moment, we are very positive.

"There is massive improvement - 60 to 70, maybe even 70 to 80% we have changed and improved his action.

"As soon as his ban ends, he will obviously come straight back to playing for Worcester and not only them but also Pakistan."

Ajmal said last month that Saqlain's appointment on a short-term deal with the Pakistan Cricket Board has been a big factor in getting him back on track.

Saqlain Mushtaq, who spent 11 years in county cricket with Surrey and Sussex, took 208 Test wickets

"Before there was no spin coach, but now Pakistan has one. It's been a difficult time. It's been frustrating as I've had to go back to the basics of spin bowling, right back to the start and work through the whole process.

"Most of my deliveries are now within the 15-degree limit. The ICC's rules stipulate that all deliveries have to be under 15 degrees and I'm very confident that I will achieve that target.

"I think 99% of bowlers these days would fail the 15-degree test for at least one or more of their deliveries.

"I also think the technology being used in match situations to assess bowling actions is too strict.

"They should use normal television cameras to assess our bowling actions. Instead, what is being used are cameras that can virtually see the blood running through our bodies."

Ajmal continued: "Also, this shouldn't just be about spinners, I'm surprised some pace bowlers have not been reported for their action being illegal.

"I was tested in 2009, tested again earlier this year and have had private tests on my action - every one has produced different results.

"There is just no consistency at all in these tests and the subsequent reports. If there was, I would know where I stand.

"I work on rectifying one issue then, in the next report, something different is pointed out."

In the last few days, Ajmal was named in Pakistan's provisional 30-man World Cup squad in the expectation that he may be cleared by the ICC by early next year.

Ajmal is one of nine international off-spinners to be reported to the ICC for illegal actions in the past 13 months - the most recent being his Pakistan team-mate Mohammad Hafeez, who was banned from bowling on Sunday.