Pakistan‘s former captain Rameez Raja has said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) needs to tweak its new protocol on illegal bowling actions to ensure the ‘doosra’ remains part of the sport.
“The ICC appears to have made up its mind to show no leniency to bowlers who they feel try to bypass the system. But the ICC also needs to ensure unorthodox bowlers don’t fade away in cricket,” Raja was quoted as saying in an interview to Geo Super channel.
Rameez, now a commentator, felt that the ICC could increase the limit for bowlers to straighten their elbow to up to 18 to 20 degrees from the present 15 degrees allowed under the law.
“I can tell you as a commentator these unorthodox bowlers bring excitement to cricket and the ‘doosra’ delivery has become a legitimate weapon for an off-spinner, they can’t do without it now,” he said.
Rameez noted that with rules now clearly in favour of the batsmen, the ICC needed to give some allowance to bowlers. “A little tweak in the laws will be good for the sport. Life is hard for bowlers nowadays and it is not easy for them. I think there is nothing wrong with a review of the new protocol system.,” he added.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also said it would be taking up the issue at the next meeting of the ICC this month. When reminded that PCB chief Shaharyar Khan and the national team head coach Waqar Younis had also questioned the timing of the crackdown on bowlers with suspect actions, Rameez said he could understand their point of view.
“Obviously with the World Cup just a few months away this crackdown is not helpful as it will affect plans of teams.
Pakistan is an example because Saeed Ajmal is a key bowler and we don’t know whether he will be able to play in the World Cup. Mohammad Hafeez has also been reported in the Champions League.”
Rameez said when bowlers were reported it obviously shook their confidence and increased pressure on them. But the former captain brushed aside suggestions that the crackdown was aimed at Pakistani bowlers. “I think we need to get out of this conspiracy theory. Until Sunil Narine was also reported those promoting this conspiracy theory had a point that only Pakistani bowlers were being targeted but not now.”
Rameez said that Pakistan would now have to plan for the World Cup accordingly.
“Instead of blaming others for our problems I think we seriously need to look at removing flaws in our cricket system. Even when the spot-fixing scandal broke out what happened conspiracy theories were floated around in the end the players confessed they were involved. Unfortunately in Pakistan cricket we tend to show sympathy for those involved in corrupt practices,” he said.
Rameez also felt that the board and selectors should have handled the Younis Khan ouster affair more sensibly and diplomatically.
“I can understand why Younis has reacted the way he did and in the end the selectors have to be clear if they need him for the World Cup or not. But at same time Younis is 36 and he also has to decide his future career himself.”
