Embattled West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine has been reported yet again for having a suspected illegal bowling action, further tossing the limited overs superstar’s career into deeper turmoil.
The Indian Premier League said yesterday that the report had been lodged by match officials following Kolkata Knight Riders clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday in Visakhapatnam, when the visitors went down by 16 runs.
“A suspected illegal bowling action report has been filed by the match officials on certain deliveries bowled by Mr Sunil Narine of Kolkata Knight Riders during the Pepsi IPL 2015 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders played on the 22nd of April, 2015 in Visakhapatnam,” a league statement said.
Narine went wicket-less from four overs which cost 38 runs.
According to a league statement, Narine will be allowed to continue bowling but may seek testing on the specific deliveries.
“As per the provisions of the IPL Suspected Illegal Bowling Action Policy, Mr Narine will still be eligible to bowl in forthcoming Pepsi IPL matches and may request a biomechanical analysis of the deliveries in question at the ICC and BCCI accredited testing facility, the Sri Ramachandra Arthroscopy and Sports Science Centre (SRASSC) in Chennai,” the IPL said.
The latest development will come as a major setback for the 26-year-old Trinidadian who was twice reported during the Champions League Twenty20 last October. Following the second report – during the semi-final – he was subsequently banned from bowling in the final.
Narine was subsequently withdrawn from the Windies one-day squad to tour India and also opted out of the World Cup contingent last January, as he continued to focus on the rehabilitation of his action.
He was cleared last month by cricket’s world governing body, the ICC, following tests at the University of Loughborough but in a bizarre move, the Indian Cricket Board demanded Narine undergo new tests—sanctioned by themselves—before he could be eligible to play in the IPL.
While he passed those tests at the Sri Ramachandra University centre, he has been less effective in the IPL this season, taking just two wickets so far at an average of 73.
His 21 wickets in 16 matches last season at an average of 19, was one of the main reasons behind KKR’s capture of their second IPL title.