Bangladesh pace bowler Taskin Ahmed’s suspension from bowling in international cricket has been upheld by the ICC, following a review hearing conducted by a Judicial Commissioner.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced this in a media release on Wednesday.
The hearing was conducted on Tuesday by Michael Beloff QC over a tele-conference call that continued for several hours and in which numerous legal challenges were made on behalf of the player Taskin Ahmed.
In the release ICC stated,”Having carefully considered those arguments and the responses of the ICC, Mr Beloff has now notified all parties concerned of his decision that Taskin’s suspension from bowling in international cricket shall be upheld and indicated that a written reasoned decision will be provided in due course.”
Taskin was reported for suspected illegal bowling action by the match officials in Bangladesh’s opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 2016 against the Netherlands in Dharamsala on March 9.
Thskin underwent an independent assessment at the ICC-accredited testing centre in Chennai on March 15.
This independent assessment found that some of Taskin’s standard deliveries exceeded the permissible level of elbow extension and, as such, his bowling action was found to be illegal and he was suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.
Taskin exercised his right to request a quick review of his case by a judicial commissioner.
Taskin may, at any time following appropriate remedial work, apply to the ICC for a re-assessment of his bowling action, which shall be carried out in the same manner as the initial independent assessment.
BCB director-cum-media committee chairman Jalal Younus and BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury Sujon confirmed it to UNB Wednesday morning.
They said Taskin’s suspension case will now proceed in a normal process.
Earlier, BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told ESPNcricinfo that the hearing continued for four to five hours,and the BCB had grounds for a reversal of the suspension but he did not elaborate.
He said that the BCB had pushed for an expeditious hearing with a view to having Taskin cleared to play today’s game against India.
Taskin is still with the team in Bangalore, but given he will now have to resort to the long-drawn procedure around having his action reassessed before he can bowl again, a decision will be taken on whether to send him back home or keep him in India.
Taskin and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny were suspended from bowling in international cricket on March 19, after an independent assessment found their bowling actions to be illegal.
The pair were reported after Bangladesh’s World T20 first-round match against the Netherlands on March 9.
The BCB had filed the notice of review on Monday.
ESPNcricinfo understands that neither the BCB nor Taskin was questioning the independent assessment report but lodged the request for a review based on a procedural issue.
Article 2.2.15 of the ICC’s regulations states “in circumstances where the Player contends that the ICC has not followed its own procedures… in the lead up to and/or during an Independent Analysis, the Player shall be entitled to seek a review of the procedural aspects of his case by a judicial commissioner”.
