Zimbabwe’s Vitori reported for suspect bowling action, Netherlands’ Malik cleared

Zimbabwe’s left-arm fast bowler Brian Vitori has been reported with a suspect bowling action during the T20I against Bangladesh, which his side won by 31 runs in Khulna on Wednesday. The ICC has also confirmed that, following remedial work and a re-test, the bowling action of Netherlands’ fast bowler Ahsan Malik is legal and he can now resume bowling in international cricket.

The match officials’ report, which was handed over to the Zimbabwe team management after the match, cited concerns about the legality of the 25-year-old’s deliveries. Vitori’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. He is required to undergo testing within 14 days, and, during this period, Vitori is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.

Meanwhile, Ahsan who was reported in July during last year’s ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier had remodeled his bowling action prior to applying to have his action re-tested. The result shows that the level of elbow extension measured for all deliveries bowled was now within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations.

The umpires are still at liberty to report Malik in the future if they believe the bowler is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action that was analysed during the re-test. To assist in comparing the action used in the lab to the action used in upcoming matches, umpires have been provided with images and video footage of the remodeled legal action of the bowler.