Bangladesh’s off-spinner Sohag Gazi and Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utsyeta have been banned from bowling in international cricket after their bowling actions were found to be illegal, said the International Cricket Council on Wednesday. An ICC media release confirmed that an analysis showed that all deliveries of both the players have exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations.
Sohag was reported for suspect action after the second one-day international against West Indies on August 22 while former Zimbabwe captain Utseya was reported after the third ODI against South Africa in Bulawayo in the same month.
Both the players underwent their bio-mechanical test on September 19 at the Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales.
The BCB had pulled out Sohag from the Test series against Caribbeans and the Asian Games after he was reported with suspect action.
The off-spinner, who played 10 Tests and 20 ODIs for Bangladesh, was hopeful of making a return to international cricket with the forthcoming home series against Zimbabwe.
But he has to go through a remedial process now before applying for a re-assessment of his bowling action in accordance with the ICC guideline. The Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive officer Nizamuddin said they have received the ICC report and will take act accordingly.
‘We’ll take step to rectify his bowling action according to the directions of ICC,’ he said.
Sohag, who in October 2013 became the first man in history to claim a hat-trick and score a century in the same Test against New Zealand, is the second Bangladeshi bowler to be banned from bowling for illegal action after left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak.
The ICC banned Razzak in 2008 but he successfully rectified his action to return to international cricket and continue playing till date.
The suspension of Sohag and Utsyea came as part of an ICC crackdown against bowlers with suspect action, with Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal, Sri Lanka’s Sachitra Senanayake and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson were also being suspended since July.
Bangladesh’s Al-Amin Hossain was also reported after the first Test match against West Indies at St Vincent during the recent tour.
A similar drive was undertaken in the recent Champions League T20, during which Sunil Narine was banned from bowling in the final and other BCCI-organised tournaments like the Indian Premier League.
Pakistani off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez was also reported with suspect action during the CPL.
Al-Amin, the only pace bowler to fall prey to the recent crackdown, is expected to undergo his testing in newly accredited facilities at the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai as soon as he recovers from a side strain.
-With New Age input
