SAEED Ajmal is set to undergo an official International Cricket Council biomechanic test in Chennai on January 24 to assess his remodelled bowling action in a bid to have his ban on playing international cricket lifted.

The Pakistan spinner, who took 63 LV= Championship wickets for Worcestershire last season, has been suspended since September after his action was reported the previous month during the Test with Sri Lanka in Galle.

A Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said: “PCB approached the ICC to have an official test of Saeed Ajmal. ICC has now given us the date of January 24, but it is tentative and we are yet to receive confirmation from ICC.”

Saeed has been working with former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq at the Pakistan National Cricket Academy (PNCA) in Lahore after undertaking two informal ICC tests at Loughborough.

But now PNCA head coach Mohammad Akram believes Ajmal is ready to be officially assessed.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes has already indicated he is keen to re-sign Saeed for a third spell if he gets ICC approval and negotiations and talks have taken place with the player and his representatives.

Akram said: “We feel he is ready for re-assessment. We took time and didn’t push for his return because the idea was to make sure that he is bowling within the limit.”

Should Saeed’s action be deemed to be legal, his ban from bowling in international cricket will be lifted.

If he fails the test, the ICC’s Bowling Review Group (BRG) will specify a period during which time Saeed will not be entitled to approach the ICC for reassessment.