Sports
Sachitra Senanayake reported for suspected bowling action
Jun 02, 201408:21 PM
Sachitra Senanayake, the off-spinner who has been Sri Lanka’s most successful and economical bowler in the one-day series against England, has been reported for bowling with a suspect action during Saturday’s victory at Lord’s.
Senanayake, a 29-year-old who has made 51 international appearances since his debut in January 2012, had his action cleared by the International Cricket Council’s biomechanical testing after it had been reported during Sri Lanka’s A-tour of England that summer.
Now he must undergo further tests within the next 21 days having been reported at the end of Saturday’s match by the on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Ian Gould, the television umpire Chris Gaffaney, and the match referee Jeff Crowe – but he will still be allowed to play in the deciding match of the series, which is tied 2-2, at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) were informed on Sunday that umpires officiating in the 4th ODI have reported “a number of deliveries bowled by Sachithra Senanayake were considered to be suspect”.
Senanayake took the key wicket of Eoin Morgan and conceded only 49 runs from his 10 overs, giving him eight for 100 in the series at an economy rate of less than four per over.
“Since Sachithra had over the past 2 years played many bilateral/ ICC tournaments and four earlier games in the current tour without any hint of suspicion, this comes as a surprise to SLC.”
“As however, the ICC has a procedure in place for situations such as this, SLC has no option but to adhere to the laid down process,” the country’s cricket governing body said in a statement today.
According to this process, Sachithra is not debarred from consideration for selection to the 5th ODI to be played at Edgbaston tomorrow.
