Sri Lankan off-spinner Akila Dananjaya has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect after his bowling action has been found illegal.
On Monday (December 10), the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that an independent assessment has found Dananjaya’s deliveries were exceeding the 15 degrees limitation. In result, the 25-year-old off-spinner has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.
According to the ICC media release, “In accordance with Article 11.1 of the ICC Regulations For The Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspect Illegal Bowling Actions, Dananjaya’s international suspension will also be recognised and enforced by all National Cricket Federations for domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdiction.”
However, with the permission of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Dananjaya can bowl in domestic cricket under the jurisdiction of SLC.
Dananjaya was reported with the suspected bowling action at the end of the first Test of three-match home Test series against England at Galle International Stadium (Galle) in last month. However, he was available for the next Test as he was permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.
But he missed the third and final Test of the series due to facing the independent test on which report he has been suspended at present.
Dananjaya made his international cricket debut in September 2012, just before completing the 19 years old. He has played five Tests, 30 ODIs and 16 T20Is where he has picked up a total of 87 wickets in the international career (27 Test wickets, 46 ODI wickets and 14 T20I wickets).
The off-spinner is free to give the re-test on his bowling action after modifying his action. Once he will fit under ICC’s bowling action regulation, he can return to the international cricket.
