Pakistan offspinner Bilal Asif has been reported for a suspect action following the third ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare. Asif, 30, had made his international debut in the second game of the series, and took figures of 5 for 25 in the third ODI to help Pakistan win the series 2-1.
"Bilal's action has been reported after the third ODI and we are following the procedure with the ICC," Intikhab Alam, Pakistan's team manager, told ESPNcricinfo. A total of eight deliveries from Asif during third ODI were reported by the match officials.
Although he is still eligible to play international cricket, it will be interesting to see whether Pakistan selects him to face England in the upcoming series. It's pretty amazing that despite being 30, he has only played a total of 41 career matches prior to making his debut for Pakistan.
So at 30 years old and just making his debut and already he has been reported for suspect action? It seems like the icc is trying to get rid of spinners from the game because there must be something to spin bowling why so many spinners are being reported.
[quote author=Rowe992 link=topic=100623.msg657919#msg657919 date=1444175601]
So at 30 years old and just making his debut and already he has been reported for suspect action? It seems like the icc is trying to get rid of spinners from the game because there must be something to spin bowling why so many spinners are being reported.
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The one thing all of the spinners that have been reported for suspect actions have in common is their doosra. In the last month, both Kaushal and Bilal have been reported for suspect actions. Their offbreaks have been deemed legal, their doosra not so. Moeen Ali spoke at some length about shelving the doosra from his arsenal late last year for fear of being picked up. Bishan Bedi has long since argued that the doosra can not be bowled legally.
When Ajmal, Hafeez, Narine, Sohag Gazi, Harbhajan, Shillingford, Kaushal, Bilal, Sesanayke bowl the doosra, they chuck it. They are pelters and the ICC have every right to ban them.
The ICC has cleared Bilal Asif and he is available to play in the third and final Test for Pakistan. With news that Imran Khan has been ruled out of the final Test due to a hand injury and Sharjah being receptive to spin, there is a chance Bilal Asif will be selected. Rahat Ali would be a like-for-like replacement, but getting an extra front-line spinner in the team would be a very aggressive move.