Two Bangladeshi bowlers— pacer Taskin Ahmed and spinner Arafat Sunny—
were reported for suspect bowling action during their ICC World
Twenty20 match against the Netherlands in Dharamsala, India on
Wednesday.
The ICC officials have expressed their concerns about the suspect
bowling actions of Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny, which has left the
Bangladesh team livid.
Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha, though, did not feel there
was anything suspect about their actions, and questioned the timing of
this report - following their game against the Netherlands on Wednesday -
while they have been bowling ‘the same way for the last 12 months’.
‘If they have a concern about my bowlers, I have a concern about
their [ICC's] actions as well,’ Hathurusingha said. ‘I don't see
anything wrong. They have bowled the same way as the last 12 months. As
you said if they [the ICC officials] have officiated the matches they
have been playing, they must have seen something different yesterday.
That's all I can say.’
It was learnt that Australian on-field umpire Rod Tucker made this
report to Bangladesh team manger Khaled Mahmud Sujon after the match and
later he informed the matter to match referee Andy Pycroft of Zimbabwe.
The Bangladesh coach informed reporters that his team had received
written and official communication from the match officials that they
were ‘concerned’ at the actions of the duo.
Hathurusingha, however, said the two Bangladeshi bowlers are free to play and bowl for the time being.
They will have to go for a test of their actions within 14 days of
the report, which leaves Chennai centre as their only option if they are
to continue taking part in the World T20.
Tucker was an on-field umpire when Bangladesh beat India 2-1 at home,
and Pycroft was the match referee. Hathurusingha says the actions of
the bowlers have not changed over the last 12 months.
Asked how it affects his side now, Hathurusingha promised they were
not going to change their actions. ‘It's about how you take it,’ he
said. ‘As bowlers they are strong enough to understand what they are
doing is right. We also think that we have no concern. They have played
so much cricket recently as well. It is a surprise for us. We have to
take their concerns. They are only concerns at this stage. I don't think
it will affect the way we are playing.’
The Bangladesh coach insisted on one word, ‘yes’, that he believed their actions were clean.