Taskin Ahmed suspension, a grave injustice: BCB

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) are entitled to feel a sense of injustice following the bans handed out to their frontline bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny. The bans were issued following Bangladesh’s encounter against the Netherlands. Both Taskin and Arafat underwent tests for their suspect actions in Chennai on Thursday.

BCB chairman Nazmul Hassan has lashed out at the ICC stating that it wrong on their part to suspend players midway through the tournament while he also believed that Taskin Ahmed’s action was not illegal.

“What happened with Taskin is a first in cricket history. I always knew the ICC rule was that a bowler is suspended if he bowls illegal deliveries in a match. But now it seems he can also be suspended if he does not bowl illegally in a match,” said the BCB chief.

“The match referee said all his deliveries (in the Netherlands match) were suspicious. But after going to the laboratory, they saw none of them was illegal. So it teaches us a new lesson, even if a bowler does not bowl a single illegal delivery in a match, he can still be suspended in international cricket.”

Hassan also added that it would effectively be the end of Bangladeshi cricket should Taskin’s action be found to be illegal. Taskin Ahmed has been in magnificent form of late, helping Bangladesh to series wins over Pakistan, South Africa and India. Hasan was also confident that Taskin would pass the bowling test.

“If there is a talk of a jolt for Bangladesh cricket, this is it. Bangladesh cricket has finished. You see Taskin is our main bowler. The crucial things are that he is our fastest bowler. He bowls faster than 140 kmph,” he said.

“He has bowled brilliantly in the last few series’. His action was never questioned before, but it happened now. I feel it has been a severe injustice. But I still think Bangladesh were remarkable against Australia and India.”

“I am confident he will pass (the test). Even if we send him tomorrow (to take the test), he will pass it. But it is unfortunate he could not play the World T20,” said Hassan.