Saeed Ajmal is in Pakistan’s 30-man preliminary squad for next year’s World Cup, despite currently being banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for an illegal bowling action.

The 37-year-old offspinner is undergoing remedial work on his bowling action which was deemed illegal in September this year.

His action was reported as suspect during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in August.

Ranked as the No.1 bowler in the world in one-day cricket in August, Ajmal’s suspension was a huge blow to Pakistan’s hopes of lifting the World Cup, being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in February and March.

However, chief selector Moin Khan hoped Ajmal will be cleared.

“We have included Ajmal in a hope that he will be cleared,” Khan told AFP.

“We have been monitoring him during his remedial work.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier this week asked the ICC to have Ajmal’s action reassessed but have backed out of the plan after unofficial tests on the offspinner showed little improvement.

Under ICC rules a bowler is allowed to flex his elbow by 15 degrees but Ajmal’s action showed his goes to 43 degrees.

Misbah-ul-Haq has already been named as captain of the squad, which has to be trimmed to 15 by the January 7 deadline.

The 30-man squad also includes another player whose bowling action has been referred for assessment, all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez.

A report on his bio-mechanical analysis is likely to come next week and if Hafeez is also suspended Pakistan’s bowling attack will be weakened further.

Misbah-ul Haq admitted Ajmal’s suspension was a huge blow.

“Ajmal has been our trump card for the last five six years and his suspension is a big jolt for us,” Misbah said.

The preliminary squad also includes former captain Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal who have not played for Pakistan for over a year.

Pakistan preliminary squad for ICC World Cup

Preliminary Squad: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Sharjeel Khan, Sami Aslam, Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Sohaib Maqsood, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Umar Gul, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Raza Hasan, Yasir Shah, Shahid Afridi, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Sohail Tanvir, Sarfraz Ahmad, Kamran Akmal.