Former Pakistan bowler Saeed Ajmal has alleged that Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was away from the Indian team for six months so that he could correct his bowling action and would avoid a ban on bowling from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Ajmal also spoke about the bowling rules, criticised ICC’s 15 degrees arm-bending rule. Ajmal also faced a ban during his playing career after his action was deemed illegal.

Also read | Couldn’t sleep: Ravichandran Ashwin opens up about bio-bubble struggles

“You changed all these rules and regulations without asking anyone. I was playing cricket for the last eight years. All those rules were for me. That’s it”, said Ajmal in a YouTube with Cricwick. “During that period, Ashwin was out from cricket for six months. Why is that? So you can work on him and your bowler doesn’t get banned”.

“They don’t care if a Pakistan bowler gets banned. They only care about money”, added Ajmal.

Recently, Ashwin was accused of asking ICC to relax the 15-degree rule. Ashwin denied the reports, saying, “Really?? Pls, don’t carry the wrong stuff!! I will never say such a thing”, reported NDTV.

Also read | Don’t run after Team India selection: When Rahul Dravid motivated Ajinka Rahane

Ashwin, on Twitter, wrote, “Wrong wrong wrong!! My channel is done for all the right reasons and audience to know cricket better. If you can’t get such basic stuff right in translation, pls don’t carry such poor news”.

Ashwin is currently part of the Indian cricket team that is in England to play the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand.