PCB fines Ajmal for outburst

Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan offspinner, has been fined an undisclosed amount by the Pakistan Cricket Board for speaking out after being reported for a suspect bowling action during the ongoing ODI series against Australia in the UAE.

"Ajmal violated the PCB code of conduct by giving interviews to the media without prior permission of the manager and his comments against other team's players were unacceptable," Zakir Khan, the PCB's director operations, told AFP.

Ajmal's doosra came under scrutiny during the second ODI in Dubai and the bowler expressed surprise at the call. He suspected that the allrounder Shane Watson might have tipped off the umpires, Billy Bowden and Asad Rauf, about his doosra. Ajmal put the setback behind him and continued to bowl in the third match.

Australian captain Michael Clarke denied that Watson played any part in reporting his suspicions to the umpires. Clarke's counterpart Younis Khan expressed disappointment at the number of controversies that crop up when Australia play subcontinental teams.