The Board of Control for Cricket in India has permitted Kolkata Knight Riders spinner Sunil Narine to bowl off-spin once again. The BCCI cleared Narine on the condition that if reported again, he will be banned for the season.
The enigmatic KKR spinner, whose bowling action has recently come under the scanner, underwent a biomechanical analysis — for the third time in a month — at Sri Ramachandra Arthroscopy and Sports Sciences Centre (SRASSC) in Chennai after getting the off-spin ban.
With the bowler reappearing for another test for his remodelled action after the fresh ban, the BBCI suspect bowling action committee found it within the permissible limit of 15 degrees and gave Narine the clearance to bowl the off-spinners again.
The player was first banned during the CLT20 tournament in October last year.
Saying that the bowler will take around a year or more to perfect the remodelled action, KKR coach Trevor Balyliss pointed out that Narine had faltered under pressure.
Announcing Narine’s clearance, a BCCI release said: “In its decision on 28 April 2015 to ban Mr. Narine from bowling off-spinners in the IPL, the BCCI suspect bowling action committee noted that the player could request a further official assessment by the Committee.
“This request was received and accordingly the player underwent a third biomechanical analysis of his action at the ICC and BCCI accredited SRASSC in Chennai — this time for his remodelled action (i.e. the one that had been cleared by the Committee immediately before the IPL season).”
“This analysis has re-confirmed the conclusion of the first official assessment by the Committee that the remodelled action for the off-spinner does not contravene Law 24.2 (as read with Law 24.3).
“Accordingly, the Committee has determined that Mr. Narine’s name be removed from the IPL Suspected Illegal Bowling Action Policy’s warning list and that he may once more bowl all deliveries (the off-spinner, the knuckle ball and the quicker straight ball) in matches organised by the BCCI including the IPL.”
The BCCI statement added: “The Committee, however, has drawn Mr. Narine’s attention to paragraph 4.9 of the IPL Suspected Illegal Bowling Action Policy. Any further report for a suspected illegal bowling action during the course of this season will automatically mean that Mr. Narine is banned from bowling for the rest of the season. The player has therefore been cautioned to be careful not to again deviate from his remodelled action.”
