BCB to review suspect bowling actions of 13 bowlers

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) bowling action review committee will review the suspected bowling actions of at least 13 bowlers who were reported during this season’s Dhaka Premier League. The committee was formed during last Sunday’s board meeting.

In the first week of the DPL, six bowlers were reported by the umpires – Naeem Islam Jnr, Faisal Hossain, Moinul Islam, Rejaul Karim, Amit Kumar, and offspinner Mustafizur Rahman, who was reported twice.

“We have a meeting on Tuesday to decide the committee’s modus operandi,” committee’s head, Jalal Yunus said. “At least 13 to 14 bowlers have been reported during this Dhaka Premier League. We will start working with them after Eid. We will assess their bowling actions in the nets. Omar Khaled is a former spinner and, Dipu Roy Chowdhury and Golam Faruk are former pace bowlers who will work according to their areas. If we find a deviation in their bowling through the naked eye and cameras, we will have to rectify them.”

“Afterwards, if we see the correction is consistent, they can play in next year’s league. If they are reported again, they will be banned for a year. We will work with bowlers in the NCL, BCL, BPL, the Dhaka Premier League, Dhaka First Division and Second Division and age-group.”

Yunus said they will look for an outside expert since they don’t have experience in reviewing the bowling action. They have contacted the Cardiff centre for personnel to be sent to Dhaka to guide the committee.

“We are not experienced at reviewing a bowling action, so we will bring an outside expert. We will need a dedicated space because this process also requires technological assistance. We have a long gap now and we are now well-equipped to tackle this issue.”

“Building a lab within ICC’s protocol is going to be very expensive. We want to start with minimum costs. We have written to the ICC for technical assistance. We are also hoping to bring experts from Cardiff on a temporary basis,” he said.

Meanwhile, the second test of bowling actions of Arafat Sunny and Taskin Ahmed will be completed before October, after which they will be hosting a series against England.

“Arafat Sunny and Taskin Ahmed are not within our jurisdiction. The national team’s management is working with them. Their rehab is ongoing,” Yunus said. “Their videos from the Dhaka Premier League will be assessed soon, and if it is satisfactory and we are fully confirmed, they will go for a second bowling action test and it will be before the next international assignment,” he concluded.