Pakistan's media consistently pitched into the bowlers' footmarks against world cricket's chief David Richardson on Monday, demanding to know why Saeed Ajmal had been targeted by Indian interests within the ICC.
Star spinner Ajmal's chucking ban had nothing to do with national jealousies, Richardson told journalists at the ICC's headquarters in Dubai.
"There was no question of penalising bowlers from some countries," the former South Africa batsman said as he padded away one attacking delivery after another in a 45-minute session.
"The best thing in our cricket committee is that there are players from around the world in it who are doing everything for the good of the game and I don't think there was any kind of underhand motive.
"Bowlers have been reported from a range of countries. New Zealand, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and I don't think any country will be spared if they have bowlers with suspect actions."
Why then was this crackdown on chucking done so close to February's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Richardson was asked.
"It was virtually nine months before the World Cup," Richardson said.
"If we decide that there's something wrong with the game, why should we wait until after a World Cup?
"I think we'd reached that straw that broke the camel's back.
"There were just too many bowlers starting to emerge that people were starting to worry about.
"It was simply that we said no, this is far enough.
"It's arguable that we should have taken this kind of action earlier."
Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya, Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi, Sri Lanka's Sachitra Senanayake and Ajmal have all been suspended in the past four months.
Kiwi Kane Williamson was also suspended.
Critics have argued the 15-degree rule stifles some of the game's "unorthdoxy".
Richardson said the idea of softening the rule in order to allow the doosra delivery to be bowled with an obviously bent arm was debated and defeated.
"There are legitimate ways you can do something special without changing the principle," he said.
"So we hopefully encourage the unorthodox action or deliveries but within the rules.
"The principle has always been to make sure we stick to the law of the game, which says that you must bowl the ball, not throw the ball.
"And the laws define an illegal action as an arm straightening anywhere from the point of horizontal to ball release.
"Fifteen degrees was chosen as that is the point at which you will start to notice that someone is straightening his arm."
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