Abdur Razzak Reported once again

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak once again found himself in controversy after umpires Asoka de Silva and Daryl Harper reported his bowling action.

The umpires, who conducted the just-concluded Test series between Bangladesh and New Zealand, found Razzak's faster delivery a reason for concern after the drawn second game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. The two umpires have asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to review the bowler's action.

"In their report the umpires explained they had concerns over the player's faster ball and, having monitored it during both matches of the series, decided it was appropriate the delivery should be scrutinised further under the relevant ICC process," stated an ICC media release.

After the ICC obtains three copies of the relevant footage -- one going each to the player, Bangladesh Cricket Board and one retained by the governing body itself -- Razzak is required to submit to an independent analysis of his action by a member of the ICC panel of human movement specialists, appointed in consultation with the BCB within 21 days of the report being received by the cricket board.

Thankfully for the Tigers, Razzak can play during the three-week period he has been granted by the ICC for observation. And that means he will be available for the upcoming tour of South Africa.

BCB cricket operations committee chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain however said that the board would seek an extension, maybe after the series against the Proteas.

"We will correspond with the ICC to get an extension and maybe have the analysis in Dhaka after the team comes back from the tour," said Ashraf.

"If not, then we can have it in South Africa if the ICC has any of their panel members present there during the time of the tour," added Ashraf.

After the panel member reviews Razzak's action, 'the report must be filed with the ICC within 14 days of it occurring', according to the ICC regulations.

If a player is found to have bowled with an illegal action during the independent analysis then he will be banned from bowling until he undertakes remedial action and is reassessed. If the independent analysis finds the player guilty of bowling with an illegal action for a specific type of delivery only then he can continue to bowl in international cricket with a warning that if he is reported again then he will be banned from bowling with immediate effect. Until the receipt of the report of the independent analysis by the BCB then the player can continue to bowl.

But Ashraf said that it is too soon to give a verdict on the 26-year-old's action.

"I think it is too early to say anything and be negative about it because it was his delivery that came under question. One must remember that the umpires might have judged the incident through the naked eye," said the former national captain.

"I think the test will certify his action, whether it falls under the given degrees or not," added Ashraf.

This is the second time Razzak has been reported in his career.

The first instance was during an Asia Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo in 2004 in what was only his second one-day international. The then high performance unit manager Richard McInnes cleared him six weeks later and Razzak resumed his international career in January 2005.