Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months after experts adjudged his action to be illegal.
The 34-year-old, who was previously suspended in November 2014 for the same reason, was reported by the match officials following his country's first Test victory over Sri Lanka in Galle last month, in which he recorded match figures of two for 64.
An International Cricket Council statement said: "Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months following an independent assessment of his action, which took place at the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai on 6 July.
"The 34-year-old was assessed after the legality of his bowling action came under question by the match officials during Pakistan's first Test victory over Sri Lanka in Galle (17-21 June).
"Following the match, Hafeez was reported by the match officials pursuant to the ICC Regulations for the Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions (the "Regulations") and subsequently underwent the independent assessment in Chennai in accordance with the regulations.
"The assessment revealed that Hafeez's elbow extension exceeded 15 degrees while bowling and, thus, he employed an illegal bowling action."
Hafeez was also suspended from bowling last November after being reported following the first Test win against New Zealand but, following remedial work on his action, he was reassessed and permitted to resume bowling in April.
Because this is the second time Hafeez's action has been deemed illegal within a two-year period he is no w automatically suspended from bowling in international cricket for a 12-month period.
The ICC statement added: "Hafeez is entitled to appeal any procedural aspect of an independent assessment that has led to this automatic suspension. However, only after the expiry of this one-year period will he be entitled to approach the ICC for a re-assessment of his bowling action."
Hafeez was the star of the show last Saturday as Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in their five-match one-day international series against the Sri Lankans, taking four for 41 and scoring 103 to set them on their way to a six-wicket victory in Dambulla.
Source: PA
