ICC says 'too late' to add Ajmal's name in 'Test Cricketer of the Year' award shortlist

Islamabad - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) appeal to add spinner Saeed Ajmal's name in the shortlist for the Test Cricketer of the Year award, saying it is too late to add his name now.

PCB had filed an official complaint to ICC over Ajmal's omission, but the governing body has confirmed that changes to the shortlist will not be possible now and the list remained final.

Ajmal, who made it to the nominations but lost out to Michael Clarke, Kumar Sangakkara, Vernon Philander and Hashim Amla in the shortlist, picked up 72 wickets from 12 Tests played in the qualifying period and the PCB had expressed its disappointment after he failed to make the cut.

"Ajmal was in the long list of nominations for three awards and this went to a voting academy," the Express Tribune quoted an ICC spokesman, as saying.

"They voted for these players and nominated their top four. This academy is representative of all countries and their votes were audited and verified by independent auditors. In that way, the process is already complete," he added.

However, Ajmal did receive a consolation, after he got a place in the ICC Test Team of the Year as the only spinner