The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might consider sending Mohammad Hafeez back to Pakistan following their second ODI in Sharjah against New Zealand, after the all-rounder's suspension over a suspect bowling action by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq is eager to utilise the bowling services of Hafeez, who has been a key all-rounder for the team, at the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
The veteran all-rounder's departure might also mean a possible shuffle in the lineup as the management had already announced the squad against New Zealand for the first two games before the series got under way, The Dawn reported.
The ICC on Sunday declared the bowling action of Hafeez illegal. He was reported for a suspect action during the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi early in November after which the all-rounder travelled to England for a biomechanics test.
In a statement posted to the cricket regulatory body's website, the ICC confirmed that Hafeez's action was illegal and he has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.
The statement said that the ICC has confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez to be illegal, adding that the analysis revealed that all the all-rounder's deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations.
Previously, Hafeez's action had been cleared after being reported in a one-day match against the West Indies in Brisbane in 2005, the report added.