ICC allows Sri Lanka spinner Dananjaya to resume bowling in int'l cricket

Dubai: Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya will be able to resume bowling in international cricket after his bowling action was found to be legal following remedial work and reassessment, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday.

Dananjaya's last international appearance for Sri Lanka was in August 2019, with him being banned for a year for an illegal bowling action after being reported during the Test series against New Zealand in Galle.

The spinner was handed the suspension for failing the assessment on his action twice inside a two-year period. He was first suspended from bowling in December 2018 having been reported for a suspect action during the first Test against England that year.

He underwent remedial work and was reassessed, and was able to resume bowling in February 2019 before being called up for suspect action again.

The cricketer's ban came to an end on August 29, 2020 and he was eventually cleared by an expert panel which studied video footage submitted by Sri Lanka Cricket.

"An Expert Panel studied video footage of Dananjaya's bowling action provided by Sri Lanka Cricket, as attendance and assessment at an ICC accredited centre was not possible due to various restrictions resulting from Covid-19," ICC said in a statement.

"The panel concluded that the amount of elbow extension in his bowling action was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations.

To assist the Match Officials, they will be provided with the report, images and video footage of the bowler’s remodeled legal bowling action,' it added.(UNI)