"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 in a statement.
The 34-year-old Hafeez was tested last month at the Loughborough testing center, one of ICC's latest accredited laboratories, after being reported for an illegal action during the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Abu Dhabi.
"Hafeez 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," it added.
The analysis of his action was performed on November 24 by the ICC's accredited team of Human Movement Specialists using the National Cricket Performance Centre, Loughborough.
Despite being under suspicion, Hafeez had been yesterday named in Pakistan's preliminary squad of 30 for next year's ODI World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.