Canada offspinner reported with illegal action
Riyaz Pathan has been reported for an illegal bowling action during Canada's match against Zimbabwe during a Group C match of the Under-19 World Cup
Cricinfo staff
17-Jan-2010
Riyaz Pathan has been reported for an illegal bowling action • Getty Images
Canada Under-19 offspinner Riyaz Pathan has been reported for an illegal bowling action. Nadeem Ghauri and Norman Malcolm, the on-field umpires during Canada's 2010 U-19 World Cup opening game against Zimbabwe at Village Green in Christchurch, along with third umpire Sarika Prasad, reported the 19-year-old soon after the conclusion of the match. The bowler finished with 2 for 44 from his ten overs.
Pathan's bowling action will now be scrutinised under the ICC process relating to cricket other than Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 internationals. The bowler will be assessed by the Canadian board in accordance with Clause 3 of the ICC regulations, whereby it will "instigate an immediate assessment of the bowler's action by its group of advisors and arrange for the undertaking of any remedial action required by the player concerned."
The board will then be asked to report back formally to the ICC within 21 days, but if the board's assessment concludes that the bowler's action is illegal, he would be immediately suspended from bowling in international cricket.
Until the result of the Canadian board's assessment is made available, Pathan may continue to play and bowl in the tournament, but may still be called by the umpires in accordance with the laws.
Pathan became the second bowler in the tournament to be reported with a suspect bowling action after Rushan Jaleel of Sri Lanka.
Canada have been placed in Group C of the tournament along with hosts New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. While they edged out Zimbabwe by 10 runs, New Zealand handed them a nine-wicket thumping in their next game. Their last match is on January 18 against Sri Lanka in Lincoln.