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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Murali would never have played under current rules: Yousuf

Murali would never have played under current rules: Yousuf

October 31, 2014 20:42 IST
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Muthaiah MuralitharanFormer Pakistan captain Muhammad Yousuf says Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muraliatharan would never have been allowed to play top league had the current ICC rules on chucking been in place during their time.

"Murali straightened his elbow well past the current allowed limit of 15 degrees but he was fortunate to play top-flight cricket because at that time the ICC protocol was different," Yousuf said.

"I played him a lot of times and I know how he exceeded the 15-degree limit. With each ball one could see him speed up his deliveries, and I told him myself ‘You are lucky to be playing,’ Yousuf told Geo News channel.

A veteran of 90 Tests and 288 ODIs, Yousuf said once former Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar played Murali, the world's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, very comfortably, the Lankan off-spinner broke the allowed limit brazenly.

"You could hear the sound of speed as the ball came out of his hand. Under the old protocol, bowlers who straightened their arm beyond 15 degrees like Murali, were allowed to play on medical grounds but now things are different and I support these changes."

Asked if he supported the line taken by former fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar that the PCB should use legal means to challenge the new protocol which affected their bowlers the most, Yousuf disagreed.

"If the PCB wants to do it they can do it, but I don't think it is going to make a difference. I don't think the ICC will change their stance now. Their CEO has made this very clear and, overall, I think there is lot of support for these new protocols while testing suspect bowlers," he added.

Image: Muttiah Muraliatharan

Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

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