Published: Sep 30, 2014, 02:19 AM (IST)
Edited: Oct 02, 2014, 02:12 AM (IST)
Sunil Narine, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the West Indies mystery spinner was reported for suspect bowling action during the Champions League T20 (CLT20) 2014. He has mainly been reported for one particular fast delivery. Nishad Pai Vaidya examines the recent trends in the bowling world and what it means for Narine in the near future.
Sachithra Senanayake, Kane Williamson and Saeed Ajmal banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Prenelan Subrayen, Mohammad Hafeez, and Adnan Rasool reported during the Champions League T20 (CLT20) 2014. Add Sunil Narine to the list. The West Indian mystery spinner has been reported for suspect action at the CLT20 2014. The news broke out hours after his side, the Kolkata Knight Riders, registered a comfortable victory against the Dolphins. While this may come as a shock for Kolkata and the cricket fraternity, they needn’t worry as Narine can continue to bowl in the tournament and like Hafeez and Rasool; he has been placed on the warning list.
The ICC meeting changed approach?
The slew of bowlers being reported for suspect actions makes the crackdown even more apparent. Since June 2014, we have had a total of seven bowlers being reported. In this list, add the huge lot (as many as 16 bowlers) being identified by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in its domestic structure. Things seem to have taken a dramatic turn after the ICC’s meeting in Melbourne this year, where the Cricket Committee highlighted the need to empower the officials to report actions. In fact, the press release by the ICC stated that the committee voiced its concerns over the number of bowlers with “suspected illegal actions.”
Here is what the press release dated June 28 read: “The ICC Board noted with concern the number of bowlers with suspected illegal bowling actions currently playing cricket and noted the recommendations of the ICC Cricket Committee and the CEC (Chief Executive’s Committee) to revise processes to encourage umpires and referees to identify suspect bowlers with greater confidence, to use the expertise of the bio-mechanics working in this area to assume a greater role during the assessment process, and to allow for ongoing scrutiny of bowlers once they have been identified under the ICC procedures.” All the bans and reports have come only after the meeting. Senanayake and Williamson were reported before this meeting, but banned after it.
Where does this put Narine?
Coming to the Narine case, there is one differentiating factor. The CLT20 isn’t an ICC event and is mainly administered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in partnership with the others. But, this does put Narine in a bit of a spot as he earns a major chunk of his income at the IPL. Under the guidelines, he can be stopped from bowling in the tournament if he is reported once again. In fact, he wouldn’t be allowed to bowl (if reported again), until he gets clearance, in any game that is organised under the purview of the Indian cricket board. Thus, Narine may be in a spot with West Indies’ tour to India coming up and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
It is only Narine’s faster delivery that has come under the scanner. It is his stock ball and an important weapon in his armoury. If reported again, he risks losing it until clearance in the IPL. It may then be a test for him as a bowler to live up to all that aura of mystery.
Complete coverage of Sunil Narine reported for suspect action here
Complete coverage of Saeed Ajmal’s suspension here
Complete coverage of Champions League T20 (CLT20) 2014
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_44)
