BCB asks ICC to review Taskin's bowling action

Bangladesh Cricket Board has sought from the International Cricket Council a review of paceman Taskin Ahmed's bowling action, after captain Mashrafe Mortaza communicated his team's belief that Taskin's action is legal.

Published : Mar 21, 2016 22:41 IST , Dhaka

Mashrafe Mortaza at a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Mashrafe Mortaza at a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday.
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Mashrafe Mortaza at a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Bangladesh on Monday sought a review of a ban on key paceman >Taskin Ahmed from international cricket, a senior official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has said. The International Cricket Council (ICC) last week suspended Taskin and left-arm spinner >Arafat Sunny from bowling in international matches after an independent analysis found their bowling actions illegal.

The bans came as a blow to Bangladesh's chances in the World Twenty20 after it lost to Pakistan by 55 runs in its opening match. The decisions also triggered days of protests in the cricket-crazy country, with demonstrators calling the moves a conspiracy against Dhaka.

"Our Board president has already spoken to the ICC chairman and chief executive officer over the matter," BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury told AFP . "They gave us some feedback and on the basis of that we have sought a review of Taskin's ban under the ICC regulations. We are trying to expedite the process of hearing," he said.

Taskin and Arafat were the most successful Bangladesh bowlers against Pakistan, having claimed 2 for 32 and 2 for 34 respectively when others received a hammering at Eden Gardens in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata. Left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib and allrounder Shuvagata Hom have been named as their replacements.

'Justice'

Bangladesh skipper >Mashrafe Mortaza broke down to tears on Sunday ahead of his team's match against Australia in Bangalore, saying that the ban on Taskin was an injustice to his side. "We want proper justice for Taskin," Mortaza told reporters in Bangalore. "We believe Taskin has a legal bowling action. We have laid down our observations to the BCB and we hope they would discuss the matter with the ICC."

Scores of Bangladeshi cricket fans took to the streets of Dhaka on Sunday and Monday to express their outrage at the ICC decisions. The demonstrators formed human chains as they marched along busy roads in the capital. "Shame on you ICC. Your action is illegal," one banner read on Sunday as young fans rallied against the bans.

Bangladesh faces an uphill task to make the semifinals of the World T20 for the first time after losing its match to Pakistan last week. The ICC launched a crackdown against suspect actions in 2014, which resulted in several leading bowlers being suspended, including the world's former No. 1-ranked spinner Saeed Ajmal.

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