Former Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga expressed serious doubts over bowlers from the subcontinent being targeted for “illegal bowling actions” just months ahead of ICC World Cup 2015.
In the recent past, bans were imposed on Sri Lankan cricketer Sachithra Senanayake and Palistani cricketer Saeed Ajmal over their suspected bowling actions. The former Sri Lankan cricketer expressed concerns over this trend saying “timelines” of these bans are highly suspicious.
“Senanayake has been playing for Sri Lanka for nearly five years and Ajmal has been in international cricket for almost 10 years. It is surprising that authorities have noticed their bowling actions just months ahead of a World Cup tournament,” Ranatunga said in an interview with BBC Sandeshaya.
“Such unexpected developments cause various difficulties to cricket authorities across the world. They always strive to implement long terms plans targeting ICC tournaments and such bans tend to baffle their plans ahead of crucial tournaments. This is highly suspicious” the former Sri Lankan cricketer added.
It is not an easy task for Sri Lanka to find a replacement for Sachithra Senanayake in its short run up to the ICC World Cup. This also the case with Pakistan in the absence of Saeed Ajmal,” Ranatunga said.
“No bowler from the so called ‘big three’ countries – namely India, Australia and England –has been banned from international cricket due to suspected bowling actions. It is no secret that actions of the ICC are being dominated by these three countries.” Ranatunga said questioning the present power-structure of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Sri Lankan cricketer Sachithra Senanayake was recently permitted to play for a local cricket tournament after he corrected his bowling action with the support of international experts. He will soon undergo an ICC test to ascertain legitimacy of his corrected bowling action.
