KKR’s Sunil Narine banned from bowling off-spinners

Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) right-arm spinner Sunil Narine has been banned from bowling off-spinners in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) for a suspected illegal action, a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) release said on Wednesday.

He is, however, free to bowl using other deliveries in his arsenal, the release added. He was also not banned from appearing for his IPL team in the ongoing tournament.

“Mr. Narine’s bowling action for his off-spinner contravenes Law 24.2 (as read with Law 24.3) of the Laws of Cricket and, therefore, the player is now banned from bowling the off-spinner in matches organised by the BCCI, including the IPL.”

“He may, however, continue to bowl his other deliveries (the knuckle ball and the quicker straight ball),” Anurag Thakur, BCCI secretary, said in a statement.

Narine was reported by the match officials for a suspected illegal bowling action for certain deliveries during an IPL match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Visakhapatnam on April 22.

Narine subsequently appeared for a biomechanical analysis of his bowling action at the Sri Ramachandra Arthroscopy and Sports Sciences Centre (SRASSC) in Chennai.

Following a scrutiny of the report of his action, the BCCI has banned him from bowling a particular delivery.

The BCCI release added that if Narine attempts to bowl the banned “off-spinner”, the on-field umpires are entitled to call “No ball” and issue a report after the match.

That would result in Narine getting suspended from bowling in BCCI-organised matches.

“If Mr. Narine were to again bowl the off-spinner in this season’s IPL, the on-field umpires would apply Law 24.2 and call ‘No ball’ and, at the end of the match, would issue a further Report,” Thakur said.

“Pursuant to Clause 3.4 of the IPL Suspected Illegal Bowling Action Policy, the player would in such circumstances automatically be suspended from bowling in BCCI-organised matches.”

Narine is, however, free to undergo a course of bowling rehabilitation and take corrective measures to ensure that his action is clean and request a further assessment of his action.

Narine was earlier banned by the BCCI and not allowed to play for KKR in the 2014 Champions League T20 final.

He was reported twice by the umpires for suspect action in the tournament during which his ‘doosra’ (the other one) delivery was under scanner.

Defending champions threatened to pull out of the 201 IPL if Narine was not allowed to play in the current edition of the eye-grabbing tournament.

He was eventually cleared by the BCCI after undergoing biomechanical 

tests in Chennai at the start of the ongoing IPL.