Sri Lankan fast bowler reported for suspect action
Suresh Perera, the Sri Lanka fast-medium bowler, has been reported for asuspect bowling action by umpire Steve Bucknor to International CricketCouncil (ICC) match referee Cammie Smith, according to a Sri Lanka cricketboard release on Saturday.This is
Sa'adi Thawfeeq
18-Aug-2001
Suresh Perera, the Sri Lanka fast-medium bowler, has been reported for a
suspect bowling action by umpire Steve Bucknor to International Cricket
Council (ICC) match referee Cammie Smith, according to a Sri Lanka cricket
board release on Saturday.
Perera, a right-arm bowler playing in only his second Test, sent down 12
overs in the Indian first innings, but did not take a wicket. He was not
used by skipper Sanath Jayasuriya in the second innings.
He is the third Sri Lankan bowler to be reported for a suspect bowling
action in the past six years. Spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar
Dharmasena were the others. Both of them were later cleared by the ICC and
continue to play international cricket.
This is not the first time that Perera has been reported by an umpire for
having a suspect action. Two years ago umpire Asoka de Silva, who also stood
in the First Test, reported Perera to the Sri Lankan cricket board after a
domestic match between Sinhalese Sports Club and Sebastianites.
Perera, however, has been retained in the unchanged 16-member squad for the
Second Test against India starting at Asgiriya International Stadium, Kandy on August 22.
According to the revised three-stage process adopted by the ICC for bowlers
with suspect actions, the ICC will now acquire detailed video footage of
Perera during the First Test and send to the Sri Lankan board, who are
required to conduct an assessment of Perera's action within a six-week
period. The BCCSL's bowling advisors will review this report and work with
Perera to make any necessary changes.
If Perera's action is reported again within 12-months then there is a stage
two review process, which will involve an ICC advisor working directly with
Perera. If he is reported for a third time, within the same 12-month period,
the the ICC will appoint a Bowling Review Group to conduct a hearing and
make a judgment on the action's legality.