Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif predicts their bowling is “finished” with the international cricket suspension of top off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.

The ICC ban is a major blow for Pakistan ahead of their matches next month against Australia and next year’s one-day World Cup.

Cricket’s world governing body announced Ajmal’s suspension on Tuesday after he was tested on August 25 at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

“The sad part is that we haven’t tried any other specialist off-spinner in international matches and now our World Cup plans are severely dented,” Latif told AP.

“(Pakistan) bowling is finished without Ajmal.

“I had doubts for the last few months … because the way he bowls, it’s hard to get away with it in Test matches.”

Ajmal was reported after last month’s first Test against Sri Lanka.

He has taken 183 wickets in 111 one-day internationals and 178 wickets in 35 Tests.

The 36-year-old is the world’s top-ranked one-day bowler.

The spinner was also cleared after being reported for a suspect action in 2009.

“The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations,” the ICC said in a statement.

Under ICC rules, Ajmal can keep playing domestic cricket during his suspension and can apply for a reassessment at any time – provided he has modified his action.

The ICC has also banned Sri Lanka offspinner Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson in the last few months for their bowling actions.

Pakistan’s matches against Australia start with a T20 match on October 5 in Dubai.

They then play three one dayers and two Tests in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.