Aaron Phangiso reported for suspect bowling action

South Africa's left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during a domestic 50-over match, according to Cricket South Africa.

Aaron Phangiso has played 16 Twenty20 Internationals and nine One-Day Internationals for South Africa.

South Africa spinner Aaron Phangiso has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during a domestic 50-over match, the country’s cricket board has communicated. The 32-year-old, who has been included in the Proteas squad for the ICC World Twenty20, has been reported after helping his domestic side Highveld Lions into the final of South Africa’s provincial 50-over competition on Wednesday when he took 2 for 38 in eight overs.

“Aaron Phangiso of the bizhub Highveld Lions has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during the Momentum One-Day Cup match against the Warriors at Bidvest Wanderers, Johannesburg, on 24 February 2016,” the Cricket South Africa (CSA) said in a statement.

“Phangiso’s action will now be scrutinised further in accordance with the CSA Regulations for the Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions. He is required to undergo independent analysis by a member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists and is permitted to continue bowling until the results of the testing are known,” the CSA said.

World Twenty20 participation in doubt

Reports said that Phangiso, who has played 16 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and nine Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), is expected to be tested tomorrow at the ICC-accredited High Performance Academy at the University of Pretoria. Fourteen days after that test, an ICC-appointed specialist will furnish the body with written report which will determine whether Phangiso’s action is legal or not.

The time frame for his testing means that Phangiso’s performance in the World Twenty20 could be affected. Even if he is tested immediately, the 14-day period for the analysis would only conclude on March 10. He will hope that he is cleared before South Africa opens its World Twenty20 campaign against England in Mumbai on March 18.

Changes to squads are allowed until March 8, which may see South Africa’s selectors look for another back-up spinner to Imran Tahir.

It is the latest setback for Phangiso, who early this year was prevented from boarding an international flight following South Africa’s ODI series win in India because he was drunk and disorderly and CSA had subsequently handed him an unknown sanction. This week, Phangiso had to apologise for being caught on camera pretending to sniff an unknown substance off his leg during South Africa’s Twenty20 against England at the Wanderers.