Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been reported for bowling with a suspected illegal action following his side's first Test defeat to Sri Lanka in Galle.

The match officials' report handed to Pakistan's team management cited concerns over a number of deliveries that were considered to be suspect, concluding that the bowler's action needs to be tested.

He will now be required to undergo independent analysis of his bowling action within 21 days but he is allowed to continue bowling in international cricket during that time.

Ajmal, who has taken 174 wickets in 34 Tests, has been frequently accused of 'chucking', particularly on social media, where pictures appearing to show his elbow bent further than the allowed 15 degree limit have been published.

That went a step further earlier this year when former England captain Michael Vaughan and current England bowler Stuart Broad made similar comments.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded that the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) take disciplinary action after Broad tweeted:

"Bowlers can bowl very differently in a lab while being tested compared to needing wickets in the middle," referring to a photo tweeted by Vaughan of Ajmal bowling for Worcestershire.

Broad was reportedly warned by the ECB, but not fined for his comments.

This is the first time that the International Cricket Council (ICC) have reported him since 2009, when he flew to Australia for independent testing and his action was passed as legal.

Now he faces a repeat and the 21-day timeframe may rule him out of the end of the One-Day International series in Sri Lanka.