India's 'Turbanator' reported again for suspect action by AFP

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Ground:	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Scorecard:	India v Pakistan
Player:	Harbhajan Singh
Event:	Pakistan in India 2004/05

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DateLine: 21st March 2005

 

India's off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been reported for a suspect bowling action for his second consecutive Test match and the third time in his career, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.

 

ICC match referee Chris Broad reported Harbhajan at the end of the second Test against Pakistan in Calcutta on Sunday. He called for an investigation Monday into the delivery of the 'doosra' -- a ball that spins away from right-hand batsmen.

 

"The report relates specifically to the bowler's action when delivering the 'doosra'," Broad said, adding he arrived at the decision after consulting on-field umpires Darrell Hair and Steve Bucknor.

 

"It was noticeable to the umpires and me that there was an apparent change in action when bowling this delivery between the first innings of the match, when no concerns were raised, and the second, which then prompted the report to be made."

 

Harbhajan picked up two wickets in each innings as India beat arch-rivals Pakistan to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

 

The 24-year-old, who did not play in the drawn first Test in Mohali, was reported by the same match referee, a former England batsman, after his previous Test against Bangladesh in December.

 

Bio-mechanical tests conducted in Australia in February found Harbhajan was complying with the new rule governing actions, which allows bowlers to straighten their arms by 15 degrees at the point of delivery.

 

Harbhajan, who was also reported and cleared in 1998, will have to undergo independent analysis of his action by a member of the ICC's panel of human movement specialists within the next one month.

 

He will be allowed to play till investigations are completed, meaning he will be available for the third and final Test against Pakistan starting in Bangalore on Thursday and the subsequent six-match one-day series.

 

But if investigations show he straightens his arm above the permissible limit of 15 degrees, Harbhajan could be kept out of international cricket for 12 months.

 

There was no immediate comment from the Indian team which arrived in Bangalore on Sunday night.

 

Harbhajan, who made his international debut in 1998, has taken 193 wickets in 44 Tests.

 

The Sikh bowler, who wears the traditional turban headgear on the field, was nicknamed the 'turbanator' by the Australian media after bagging 32 wickets in three Tests against Steve Waugh's world champions in 2001.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)