ICC announced last night that “independent assessments have found the bowling action of these bowlers to be illegal and, as such, both the bowlers have been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.”
They were reported for suspected bowling actions after the team’s eight-run win against Netherlands in their group state opening match of the World Cup.
Subsequently they have undergone assessments in the ICC accredited lab in Chennai. The analysis has found that the elbow extension for majority of Arafat’s deliveries had exceeded the 15 degrees’ level of tolerance permitted by the rules. Many of Taskin’s deliveries were also found illegal.
The team will be permitted to replace both the bowlers before their next outing against Australia tomorrow night.
The absence of these bowlers will be a big setback for the Bangladesh team, especially after losing their first Super 10 game against Pakistan. Their left arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman has already missed the game against Pakistan due to injury. And, it is adding insult to injury, when both the leading wicket takers in the first game have to sit out in the remaining games.
Both Taskin and Arafat had got two wickets each against Pakistan.
The ICC’s announcement has already invited huge criticisms from Bangladeshi cricket fans. A huge number of fans have come out on social media platforms accusing ICC of partiality. Bangladesh’s coach Chandika Hathurusingha had earlier reacted strongly to the timing of the match officials to report the bowling action. “If they have a concern about my bowlers, I have concerns about their actions as well. They have bowled the same way as the last 12 months. If they [ICC] have officiated the matches they have been playing, they must have seen something different yesterday.”
Even before being reported for the suspected action, Taskin Ahmed was already in news, not for some good reasons though. Ahead of their Asia Cup T20 final against India, an image of Taskin has appeared on social media as holding the severed head of Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. This has been retaliated by Indian fans by hacking around 15 Bangladesh government websites and posting a poster “Your Cricket Teams is Nothing”.
Bangladesh team tweet:
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