Darren Lehmann backs ICC ban on Saeed Ajmal

Australia's coach, Darren Lehmann, has openly come out in support of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to ban Saeed Ajmal from bowling in international cricket, saying the apex body's decision to crack down on illegal actions was 'good for the game'.

"The ICC have obviously decided to have a crackdown on it. That's good for the game, we've got to make sure that area is right," Lehmann told Adelaide radio station FiveAA.

"If you're within the rules then fine. If you're not, then you've got to be looked at. That's what they've decided to do. What that tells coaches and players and everyone coming through the game is that you won't be able to do any of that moving forward. I think it's good for the game," he added.

Interestingly, Lehmann is a part of ICC's Cricket Committee, which recommended that the ICC should become more serious about illegal actions. The ICC Cricket Committee, headed by former Indian leg-spinner, Anil Kumble, in its report to the executive committee of the ICC had stressed upon the need to get tougher on illegal actions. "Changes should be considered to encourage umpires and referees to identify suspect bowlers with greater confidence, to use the expertise of the bio-mechanists working in this area to assume a greater role during the assessment process, and to allow for ongoing scrutiny of bowlers once they have been identified under the ICC procedures," the committee had noted.

Following that meeting in Melbourne, the ICC had ratified the suggestion saying: "ICC Board noted with concern the number of bowlers with suspected illegal bowling actions currently playing cricket".

Ajmal is one of several bowlers to be banned for chucking ever since the ICC became serious about offences regarding illegal actions. West Indies' off-spinner, Shane Shillingford, Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake, New Zealand's part-time spinner, Kane Williamson, Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi and Al-Amin Hossain, Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya have all come under scanner. While Utseya, Al-Amin Hossain and Gazi are yet to undergo tests, Shillingford made the required changes and featured in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand.

Senanayake and Williamson are currently banned from bowling until they undergo remedial actions and present themselves for a re-assessment of their bowling action.

Lehmann is due to travel with the Australian team on the tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where they are featured to face Pakistan in 2 Tests, 3 ODIs and an one-off T20I. The tour kicks off with the lone T20I on October 5th.