FORMER Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq believes Saeed Ajmal will return to Worcestershire once his ban for an illegal bowling action has been lifted.

Ajmal, who took 63 wickets in nine LV= Championship matches for the County last season, has been working with Saqlain to remodel his action to meet International Cricket Council guidelines.

The 37-year-old was suspended from international cricket in August after his bowling was reported during the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Test in Galle for breaching the 15-degree limit permitted by the ICC.

But Saqlain insists progress has been made and the Pakistan Cricket Board will now decide when to send Ajmal for his official ICC re-test.

Once that has been completed, Saqlain says Ajmal, who wants to be cleared to play in the 2015 World Cup, will link up with Worcestershire.

New Road director of cricket Steve Rhodes has made no secret of his desire to bring the spin star back to the County.

Saqlain said: “We’ve changed the action and follow through. We have changed his horizontal bowling arm movement and, at the moment, we are very positive.

“There is massive improvement — 60 to 70 per cent, maybe even 70 to 80 we have changed and improved his action.

“As soon as his ban ends, he will obviously come straight back to playing for Worcester and not only them but also Pakistan,” added Saqlain.

Ajmal said: “Most of my deliveries are now within the 15-degree limit. The ICC’s rules stipulate that all deliveries have to be under 15 degrees and I’m very confident that I will achieve that target.”

Rhodes added: “Would I still love to have Saeed back? Very much so.

“We want to give him every opportunity to play for us in Division One should he pass his test.”