Mohammad Hafeez will not bowl during the Pakistan Super League ©Getty Images

Mohammad Hafeez will be unable to bowl during the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League after organisers opted to follow the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) standards for the tournament.

The 35-year-old international is serving a 12-month ban from bowling after independent tests on his action, which were carried out last July in Chennai, revealed he breached the permitted 15 degree limit for arm extension.

It followed Hafeez being reported during a Quaid-e-Azam trophy match last year, while he had previously been accused of having a suspect bowling action during a test match for Pakistan against New Zealand in 2014.

He has therefore been restricted to playing solely as a batsman at international level in accordance with the ICC’s rules.

However, the domestic cricket competitions would allow for Hafeez to continue bowling, in the event he is given the green light by the Pakistan Cricket Board, although he would remain under observation during matches.

The Pakistan Super League, though, have ruled out the prospect of the spinner appearing as a bowler throughout the first edition of their Twenty20 competition.

"The rules we are following are from the highest standard and we decided to stick with the ICC's ruling against any player," organisers told ESPNcricinfo.

"We understand that Mohammad Hafeez is presently banned and we will endorse the ICC's decision and carry it in the league.

“The team who picked him agreed beforehand they were taking him only as a batsman, the rules were already cleared before the final pick and it was mutually agreed."

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host the tournament's opening match on February 4
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host the tournament's opening match on February 4 ©Getty Images

Hafeez will now only be able to bat during the course of the tournament for the Peshawar Zalmi team, who he was selected by during the draft.

Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators are the remaining four teams who will compete to win the first edition of the event.

Teams will play each other twice during the group phase, before the top four advance to the semi-finals of the competition.

The winners will then compete in the final on February 23.

Although the tournament is called the Pakistan Super League all the matches are due to be held in the United Arab Emirates, with the first clash due to be held in the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday (February 4).