Should the ICC be so harsh against bowlers?

Al-Amin Hossain has been the sixth and first fast bowler whose action has been reported by the ICC since July

Nothing is going right for Bangladesh cricket at the moment. Repeated defeats and controversies off the field are making the Bangladesh cricket fraternity reel. Until now, Bangladesh cricket fans have hardly received any rejoicing news. Shameful defeats and controversial news have made them doleful and disquieted.

The crackdown on chucking

Recently, the news of Al-Amin Hossain being reported by the ICC for his bowling action came as a shocker for Bangladeshi cricket fans. The young lad is the sixth bowler – second Bangladeshi along with Sohag Gazi and the first fast bowler to be reported for a suspected bowling action by the ICC officials since July.

The ICC wants cricket to be played fairly and are determined to wash way all the dirt which threatens to dent the spirit of the game. Their war against corruption is still on while suddenly, the war against ‘illegal bowling action’ has cropped up again. We thought that the ghost has been buried long time back, but it’s not.

During the ICC cricket committee’s meeting in June, the members were not convinced with the activities of biomechanic lab at the University of Western Australia in Perth where the suspected bowlers are usually sent for testing and correct their actions. And for which the ICC decided to standardize the whole process by accrediting a number of other labs around the world where they can fulfill their required needs. The ICC recommended changes to provide the match officials enough support from the biomechanics to identify illegal bowling actions.

Such steps from the ICC proved too handy for Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand's Kane Williamson, who were reported and banned from bowling due to illegal bowling actions. Then on September 9, 2013, the suspension of Pakistan’s offspinner Saeed Ajmal shocked the cricketing world. According to the ICC, Ajmal’s action was deemed to be illegal for all deliveries.

Old fossils re-appear

Now, if the ICC has really been unsatisfied with the work of biomechanic lab at the University of Western Australia in Perth then automatically it puts a big question over those bowlers who had gone there for testing and correction of their bowling. Legendary off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling action received a green signal from there as well. Now, will the ICC rethink about legalizing Muralitharan’s bowling action if they are not convinced with the biomechanic lab at West Australia?

Over the years, ICC’s attitude towards bowlers has been like a step-father. Modern day bowlers can hardly breathe. They are simply afraid to innovate. A reverse swing becomes a black art while a doosra is regarded as witch spell. Is cricket a place only for batsmen to exhibit their innovations? If we can accept a leg glance or reverse sweep or switch hit then why is there a problem in accepting a doosra or reverse swing?

Yes, things should be done in a legal way and the ICC must allow bowling innovations to breathe by modifying rules. Let the bowlers enjoy their fair amount of freedom like the batsmen. The ICC should not be too rude towards the bowlers. It will be pity if such bowling innovations meet a tragic end.