On Monday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave the clearance to the Sri Lankan spinner Akila Dananjaya to resume bowling in international cricket following his remedial work and subsequent remodeling of suspect action. The decision prompted Sri Lanka to immediately include the off-spinner in their ODI squad for the South Africa series.

According to ICC, Dananjaya’s remodeled bowling action was assessed in Chennai on February 2 and it has been reported that the amount of elbow extension for all his deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations.

ICC’s press release regarding the same read: “Match Officials are still at liberty to report Dananjaya if they believe he is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action from the assessment.”

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In order to monitor the new action, the match officials were provided with images and video footage of the bowler’s remodeled legal bowling action.

Dananjaya was suspended from bowling after being reported during the first Test against England in Galle from 6-10 November and subsequently underwent a fair assessment of his bowling action in Brisbane on November 23, following which he was banned from bowling in international cricket.

Before the ban, Dhananjaya was one of Sri Lanka’s bowling mainstays in limited-overs cricket as he had taken 28 ODI wickets at an average of 23 in 2018, and apart from that, he has also taken 27 wickets at an average of 24.25 in the longest format of the game. 

Sri Lanka squad for the South Africa series:

Lasith Malinga (captain), Niroshan Dikwella (vice captain, Avishka Fernando, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Angelo Perera, Oshada Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera, Isuru Udana, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha and Lakshan Sandakan.