Bowling action of Taskin, Sunny illegal: ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that independent assessments have found the bowling actions of Bangladesh’s Arafat Sunny and Taskin Ahmed to be illegal and, as such, both the bowlers have been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.

Arafat’s analysis revealed that the elbow extension for majority of his deliveries had exceeded the 15 degrees’ level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Regulations for the Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions, while not all of Taskin’s deliveries were legal, reports ICC’ Media Release.

As a consequence of these suspensions, the Bangladesh cricket team is permitted to apply to the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 Event Technical Committee for approval to replace the two bowlers in the squad for the remainder of the event.

In accordance with Article 6.1 of the ICC Regulations, Arafat’s and Taskin’s international suspensions will also be recognised and enforced by all the Members for domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdiction.

However, with the consent of Bangladesh Cricket Board, the two bowlers may be able to play in domestic cricket events played in Bangladesh under its auspices.

Arafat and Taskin were reported after their side’s opening match in the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 against the Netherlands in Dharamsala on Wednesday, 9 March.

The independent assessments were performed at the ICC-accredited testing centre in Chennai. Arafat’s bowling action was analysed on 12 March, while Taskin’s test was performed on 15 March.

Right arm off-break Shuvagata Hom will replace Taskin while left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib is most likely to replace Sunny in the ongoing ICC World T20 tournament, sources said.