Hafeez reported for a suspect action

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been reported with a suspected illegal bowling action during the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday.

"The match officials' report, which was handed over to the Pakistan team manager Moin Khan, cited concerns about the legality of the 34-year-old's bowling action," the ICC said.

The 34-year-old claimed four wickets in the recent two-Test series against Australia, but it was following the opening Test match against the Black Caps where the match officials' report outlined concerns about the legality of Hafeez's bowling action.

Pakistan won the match by 248 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

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Hafeez was reported for a suspect action during the recent Oppo Champions League Twenty20 tournament, however that citing had no impact on his capacity to bowl in games not governed by the BCCI.

Hafeez's bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, one-day matches and T20Is.

As per the ICC rules on dealing with the suspect action, Hafeez is required to undergo testing within 21 days, and, during this period, Hafeez is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.

Hafeez is the second Pakistani behind Saeed Ajmal, also an off-spinner, to be reported in a major crackdown on bowlers with suspect actions the ICC launched in June this year.

Besides Ajmal, Sri Lanka's Sachitra Senanayake, New Zealand's Kane Williamson, Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi and Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya -- all off-spinners - were reported and subsequently suspended to allow remedial work on their actions.

Zimbabwe match referee Andy Pycrot was the common official in both the Ajmal and Hafeez cases.

He was also the match referee when Ajmal was reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in August this year.

Suspect actions in the news since June

3 June: Sri Lanka off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake is reported for a suspected illegal bowling action and ordered to undergo testing within 21 days.

22 June: New Zealand off-spinner Kane Williamson is reported for a suspected illegal bowling action and ordered to undergo testing within 21 days.

28 June: The ICC Cricket Committee meets in Melbourne and recommends an increased focus on bowlers with questionable actions.

12 July: Senanayake is banned from bowling by the ICC after undergoing official testing in Cardiff.

23 July: Williamson is banned from bowling by the ICC after undergoing official testing in Cardiff.

11 August: Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is reported for a suspected illegal bowling action and ordered to undergo testing within 21 days.

15 August: The ICC confirms three newly accredited testing centres will be unveiled in the coming months.

22 August: Zimbabwe off-spinner Prosper Utseya is reported for a suspected illegal bowling action and ordered to undergo testing within 21 days.

25 August: Bangladesh off-spinner Sohag Gazi is reported for a suspected illegal bowling action and ordered to undergo testing within 21 days.

25 August: Ajmal begins official testing at Cricket Australia's National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

9 September: Ajmal banned with immediate effect by ICC. Pakistan Cricket Board say they will weigh up their options, while Ajmal says a medical condition is to blame and he remains confident of playing in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

10 September: Bangladesh fast bowler Al-Amin Hossain is reported for a suspected illegal bowling action and ordered to undergo testing within 21 days.

13 September: PCB release details of ICC report that show Ajmal was found to be straightening arm nearly three times the legal limit.

26 September: PCB suspend 16 domestic cricketers with suspect bowling actions.

28 September: Oppo CLT20 match officials report Lahore Lions captain Mohammad Hafeez and Dolphins bowler Prenelan Subrayan for suspect bowling actions.

30 September: Oppo CLT20 match officials report Kolkata Knight Riders spinner Sunil Narine for a suspected illegal bowling action

2 October: Sunil Narine is reported for a second time and disqualified from bowling in the Oppo CLT20 final

6 October: Suryakumar Yadav becomes the fifth bowler called at the Oppo Champions League T20 

8 October: Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi and Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utseya banned from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect

5 November: Bangladesh fast bowler Al-Amin Hossain is cleared of a suspected illegal bowling action by the ICC